- GoCardless partners to ease football club payments.
- Offers rewards, including kit gift cards, to participating clubs.
What happened
GoCardless has announced a strategic partnership with Total Grassroots and Kelme, a kit manufacturer, aimed at simplifying payment collection for grassroots football clubs.This alliance is designed to alleviate the administrative burden of collecting cash, a common challenge for club administrators, by leveraging GoCardless’s enhanced Direct Debit capabilities. The platform offers an easy-to-use interface for automatic payment collection and reconciliation, integrating with financial solutions like Zoho, Xero, Sage, and QuickBooks.
Also read: FIFA will launch blockchain soccer game ‘FIFA Rivals’
Also read: Footballing robots steal show at AI for Good Global Summit
Why It is important
This partnership is significant as it addresses a critical need for grassroots football clubs to manage their finances more effectively. GoCardless’s transparent fee structure can make the payment process significantly cheaper, potentially up to 54% less expensive than accepting cards directly. By reducing the costs and administrative workload, clubs can redirect their resources towards growth and development initiatives. Furthermore, until summer 2025, clubs that sign up to collect payments through GoCardless will receive a £300 Kelme gift card, which can be used to purchase kits and other apparel, providing a tangible reward for adopting the new payment system. This initiative not only supports the financial health of grassroots football clubs but also strengthens their ability to provide quality equipment and attire for their teams, ultimately enhancing the overall experience for players and the club’s community.