Stockport County have once again announced their grassroots funding initiative (credit: Ethan Aspinall)

Entering its fourth year, Stockport County football club’s grassroots giving initiative raises funds of up to £50,000 for grassroots clubs among Stockport, which assists over two dozen clubs with kits, equipment, development, and wider provision.  

The initiative is a joint project between the County men’s first team, academy, women’s team, and the club’s community trust.

This month, fundraising has taken place via multiple different matches and events, such as at the Vertu Trophy final with 90p from every ticket booking fee donated. Other matches where fundraising has taken place include the men’s fixture earlier in the month against Wycombe Wanderers, the Under 17 PDL Cup final, and the County women’s team fixture against Leeds. 

One of the beneficiaries of the funding is Stockport Vikings. A grassroots club with open age and junior football teams.  

Shaun Wilkinson, the club’s treasurer, said that the funding has been useful in providing kits, equipment, and more football for not just the Vikings teams, but also more opportunities for people to get involved in football in the community too. 

“It’s the kit and the equipment”.  

“We’ve also used it towards funding power league” Wilkinson said, referring to a role Vikings play in providing opportunities for girls to play football who have never tried it before.  

Vikings help to support the Wildcats initiative. An FA project where sessions are offered to girls aged 5-11 who have not played football before, giving them the opportunity to try the sport for the first time.  

While generally pay and play, with the support of County’s funding, Vikings were able to “fund October and November” sessions last year and offer free sessions during this period for attendees. An example of the doors opened by the initiative.  

Wilkinson also said that the funding will help contribute towards “first aid and kit” for a new women’s open age team and for equipment for a new under 8s team starting from next season. 

Of the money Stockport County raise, £30,000 of these donations are split and distributed to the grassroots clubs directly while £20,000 is put towards other initiatives held throughout the year. 

Operations Director of the community trust, Dave Wardle, said that a key reason for the initiative is “so that everyone can access football”, citing rising costs as an incentive for the club to act for its community.  

“The overarching aim is to support clubs with rising costs and removing financial barriers”, Wardle said. Throughout the season, 25 clubs have benefitted, with each eligible to receive up to £1,500 to help support with extra costs and provision. 

The funding itself is not the only part of the project that is open to the beneficiaries. Stockport County also holds the grassroots fund football festival at the end of every season where funded teams are invited to Edgeley Park to play football on the pitch, with over 500 local children participating in last year’s event.  

 Stockport County’s grassroots fund has had a hugely positive impact on the local community and looks to have a bright future ahead of it, with plenty contributing, plenty benefitting, and plenty of doors opened.