PayPal announce collaboration with the FA to improve grassroots payments

PayPal has announced an official payments partnership with The Football Association (FA) and has launched a new smartphone app that plans to transform how players pay their match fees.

The app aims to help the grassroots football community with issues such as match fees, annual subs, and even fines incurred for receiving red or yellow cards.

Spanning a four-year period, both organisations plan to collaborate on further initiatives to support grassroots football. Later this year, teams will be able to redeem free football training kit and equipment.

For years grassroots football has largely relied on money changing hands in person; according to FA statistics conducted in May 2018, 80% of clubs taking cash and 38% using old fashioned cheques to collect payment.

The reliance on physical money and cheques means many clubs suffer from late or missing payments.

74% of club officials admit they waste time chasing late payments from players and parents, and a third of clubs report that up to 40% of their match fees are not collected.

Director of Digital Engagement at The FA, Russell James commented: “This signals our intent to further bring grassroots football into the digital age, making the game more accessible for all.

“Importantly this service will help save time and reduce administration for those people who dedicate their time to organising the football that so many people enjoy.

“Working with PayPal, the market leaders in their field, can only have a positive impact for everyone at grassroots football.”

The FA estimated that grassroots clubs subsequently miss out on millions of pounds of uncollected fees every season.

By digitalising payments through the new ‘FA Matchday App’, The FA and PayPal hope to simplify the collection and tracking of money for people who manage grassroots football teams.

Rob Harper, Director of Mobile Payments at PayPal UK, stated that with new technology constantly evolving, football is next in line to adapt to the ever-changing payment sector.

He said: “Those forgotten fivers to pay for subs soon add up, and become a real headache for managers.

“Together with The FA, we’ve devised an easy way for players to leave their wallet or chequebook at home, and use their PayPal digital wallet to settle up instead. With over 24 million PayPal account holders in the UK, we are well placed to drive positive and lasting change for the sport.”