“We reduced all the costs that each team has to pay”- Beechfield United Chairwoman fighting against Cost of Living Crisis

A grassroots football club in Salford is working to reduce the effects of the Cost of Living Crisis for local families.

The appeal comes after parents of players raised concerns over whether they will be able to afford their children’s football kits and fees.

Paula James, the Chairwoman at local football club, Beechfield United FC said: “This season we have reduced all costs that each team has to pay.

“It goes up depending on the size of the team and obviously, because the pitch fees are bigger.

“So, what we’ve done is cut a slice off each one this year, so they are not paying as much on a monthly basis, it’s probably going to save the teams £100 pounds each.”

There are over 20 grassroots football clubs and organizations across Salford.

To help combat the ‘Cost of Living Crisis’ in football, the Salford League have created a fund where families can go if they are struggling to pay.

Paula said: “They’ll help parents pay, help them buy new boots, and help them pay training fees and things like that.

“I have heard a couple of people saying they’re struggling, but the team manager has said we’ll sort it out.

“At the moment we’ve not had anyone saying they can’t pay, but it is early days, because they’ve only payed for September.

“Some of the parents own their businesses and they are able to put money in and pay for the kit, so therefore the club isn’t paying out for kit for every team.”

The ‘Price to Play’ report, an investigation into the economic effects of the Cost of Living Crisis, found that over 2600 grassroots football clubs around the country have had to close since July this year due to economic pressure.

With the ‘Cost of Living Crisis’ increasing prices this has also meant clubs have anticipated club costs going up. She continued: “Some clubs have folded, luckily we’ve been going for quite a long time and we have that establishment.

“For the clubhouse the electric is going to go up and will either double or treble in size of what we’re paying.

“We’re quite focussed on making sure we’re not having to pay anything else out for anybody and making sure we can keep those costs down.”