We're delighted to announce our involvement in The National Lottery Football Weekends – a celebration of non-League clubs across the UK and an exclusive ticket offer as a thank you to National Lottery players who helped keep clubs alive.
In October 2020, the National Lottery provided over £12.5m to support local and non-League clubs in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and has also supported grassroots and community football with £200m in funding since 1995.
With a halt in the football calendar and no gate revenue there were fears about the future of many clubs. Thankfully, National Lottery players stepped in to protect many local football clubs across the UK.
As thanks for the essential support, 231 clubs in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are now taking part in The National Lottery Football Weekends. Each club will, for one home fixture in March or April, run a special ‘Buy One Get One Free’ ticket offer for National Lottery players to get out to watch their local team, perhaps for the first time, and experience the vital role these clubs play as part of their local community.
The campaign will be delivered in partnership with the National League, the FA, the Scottish FA, FAW (Welsh FA) and IFA (Irish Football Association) and is also backed by well-known ex-footballers Ally McCoist and Karen Carney.
In England, the participating clubs are in the National League, National League North and National League South.
FA chief executive, Mark Bullingham, said: “The National League System is incredibly important to the English pyramid and the positive impact local clubs have on their communities up and down the country is clear to see. Volunteers, leagues, clubs and fans have all pulled together during the pandemic and it will be fantastic to see so many people out supporting their local team across the National Lottery Football Weekends.”
We hope to see as many fans as possible take part in the National Lottery Football Weekends and see how amazing local football is.
Find out more about the National Lottery Football Weekends and to find your nearest match.
Each club will be responsible for distributing tickets for its home match and details on how to claim will be available from each club. Terms and conditions apply.
