Kit manufacturer Kelme and football one-stop-shop Total Grassroots have partnered with GoCardless to simplify their payment collection process.
The bank payment company will provide its services to Kelme and Total Grassroots to enable sports clubs to show unpaid subscriptions and high card fees.
Colin Bowden, Founder of Total Grassroots and Commercial Development Officer, said: “GoCardless has literally been a game-changer for our club. We went from spending hours each week chasing unpaid subs and thousands of pounds in lost income to collecting an extra £300-400 a month in previously missed revenue. Card fees were also eating into our budget but by switching to Direct Debit, they’re no longer an issue.
“We’ve been able to redirect all of the time and money we’ve saved into growing our club. Over the past five years we’ve grown from having one adult men’s team, to having a whole junior section with well over 150 members because we’re a financially healthier organisation. And because GoCardless is all digital and automatic, we can continue to grow with confidence knowing that our payments can scale with us.”
GoCardless’ enhanced Direct Debit capabilities allow club treasurers and secretaries greater visibility and control over payments through its online platform, in addition to automatic payment collection and reconciliation.
As a result of the partnership, football clubs will have better visibility over subscription and membership fees, while freeing up time for staff and volunteers.
Rob Lowe, UK Partner at Kelme, said: “Grassroots clubs are the heart and soul of football, and we’re proud to play our part so every team can train and play with high-quality kit. By working with Total Grassroots we can grow our footprint in the UK and support even more clubs.”
Starting now until summer 2025, football clubs can sign up and collect payments with GoCardless and receive a £300 Kelme gift card. This can be used at a GoCardless club shop that is supplied by Kelme, such as Watford FC and Espanyol.
Jolawn Victor, Chief Growth Officer at GoCardless, said: “We couldn’t be more thrilled to help grassroots sports thrive. By taking the pain out of getting paid, we can empower football clubs to focus on what they do best: fostering lifelong healthy habits and changing lives through sport.”
