The premier league of football fundraising ideas

Here at Help for Heroes, we love to dribble on about football, so we’ve put together a team. We’ve got a manager - Ambassador, ex-England, Premier League footballer and current England Manager - Gareth Southgate; but like any great champions, we’re missing a star player… and that’s you!

Whether you're part of a youth team or club, work team, or just a lone striker, we’ve got a whole squads worth of football-related fundraising ideas on offer. So, be a winner for those who need support from us…and have fun enjoying the beautiful game.

1. Arrange a five-a-side tournament

If you’re part of a local team and pre-season training hasn’t started up yet, then why not pool your mates together for a 5-a-side tournament? Ask other teams locally to get involved and run it through your club. Charge an entry fee per team and player and set some donation challenges such as highest goal scorer, most saves, yellow and red cards (play nice though) and you could end up with quite a haul to donate to the Charity.

2. Put together an FA Cup sweepstake

With the football league season and competitions under way, why not set up a sweepstake with your colleagues, family or friends. Pick a team out of a hat and polish off your spreadsheet skills. Why not guess whether Ella Toone will be top scorer for Manchester Utd, or how many stops Jordan Pickford will make. The choice is yours, but don’t forget to get your sweepstakers to pay up so you can send in your donations.

3. Host your own football match screening

If you’ve got a big screen, then it’s the perfect opportunity to host a football screening. Invite your friends, family or colleagues’ round; charge for food and entry and a seat if you want to – don’t forget, the best seat in the house is more expensive than the others.

4. Host an online football gaming tournament

If you’ve got a PS4, PS5, Switch or even just a good old-fashioned PC and you’re into your FIFA or Pro Evo, then this is a piece of cake! Stream a tournament with your mates online, pick your teams out of the hat and kick off. You could charge an entry fee to play, set a donation amount for the winner and runner-up, and whoever gets the best/worst points must donate as well.

5. Host a football-themed quiz

How much of a Statto are you? How much do you and your mates really know about football? Why not host a football-themed quiz with your friends, family or colleagues and charge an entry fee for each team or person. Whoever wins contributes a donation amount on top of the kitty. You could even combine this idea with a football match screening and an online or ‘on pitch’ tournament to raise even more money.

6. Hold a ‘Spot the ball’ competition

Who doesn’t love a spot the ball competition. Search online for spot the ball sheets or search Google images for some league teams and their match highlights and pick a list of scenarios. You can use a free design tool like Canva to remove the ball. Or if you have a mate who’s a whizz on one of these packages, ask them to do it for you, then get your friends, family and/or work colleagues to guess where the ball is in each image. Charge an entry fee for the competition which goes towards your donations. You could even run this as part of a football-themed quiz with prizes for the winners.

7. Organise a friendly football match

If you’re a member of a youth or adult team in your local area, you could organise a friendly 11-a-side match with a rival team or even between your own squad (if you have enough players). You could even ask your coach if it can count towards pre-season training. Each player pays a sub which is their donation entry free, then whoever scores a goal donates an extra amount. Perhaps if a goalie saves a penalty they can donate too. The possibilities are endless, so get your thinking (England) cap on.

8. Organise a ‘Beat the Goalie’ Challenge

Fancy yourself as a 'Mary Queen of stops' or perhaps more of a Jordan Pickford. Challenge your mates to curl one past you, or if you’re a part of a team, ask your goalie to step up for this one and tell your gaffer it’s part of your training, then invite members of the public to score against your number One. You could pit your friends against family, or your work colleagues against each other in different departments. You could even run separate events for different ages and abilities. That way, you could raise more money.

9. Do sponsored keep ups

Who’s got the ‘tekkers’ among your friends, local team, or work colleagues? If you’re not part of a team, you could go solo and tackle some sponsored keepie uppies on your own. People could sponsor you for how many minutes you can manage and for different types of skills or tricks. Just make sure you have the skills first!

10. Pit the kids against the adults

Let’s go for a kick about! Keep that Premier League magic alive and get into the spirit of things by bringing your family and friends along for the ride. It’s easy to get a mini match at your local park. Ask for subs from each player on each team as their donation, and set donation values for goals scored and saved, best player, super-sub, and many more - and make sure you get a donation for each award.

11. Hold a match day car wash

Whether it’s Dads spending their Sunday’s doing it, or setting the kids a chore to do it, washing the car can be made fun and for a good cause. Why not run this as part of an event in your local area, or if you’re part of a local football club, then during one of their matchdays or training sessions. Get your team or your mates together to clean cars in exchange for a donation. You could even have different grades of wash, e.g. bronze, silver, gold and charge more or less depending on which grade is asked for. It’s also a good way to stay cool, but don’t get too wet!

12. Cook up a football-themed bake sale

Everyone loves a good cake, so why not create your own football-themed showstoppers. Maybe some Trent-Arnold treats, Bronze buttons or England Eccles’. Whatever culinary ideas you decide to cook up, make sure you charge for your efforts at your local fete, football club event, or while having your friends, family or colleagues around to watch the Lionesses, or your favourite league team. Ready, steady, bake!

13. Wear your kit to work

Let’s face it, no one likes dressing up for work when it’s hot. So, here’s the perfect excuse, why not wear your favourite club or country’s kit to the office. Get your colleagues to sponsor you. It could be on match days, FA Cup days, or just when England are playing, it’s up to you. Make sure you get permission from your boss first.