Why Supporting Grassroots Sport Should Be Part of Your Marketing Strategy

Believe in Grass Roots Sport

When it comes to deciding where to spend your marketing budget, the options are endless. From digital ads and trade shows to sponsorships and social media, there’s always another shiny opportunity promising clicks and conversions. But what if your marketing spend could do more than just build brand awareness? What if it could support young people, strengthen your local community, and leave a lasting positive impact all while still getting your name out there? That’s why we’re big believers in backing grassroots sport.

More Than Just a Logo on a Shirt

Sure, we love seeing our logo on training tops and team kits. But what really matters is where that money goes. For many local teams, especially those working with children and youth players, financial support from businesses isn’t just helpful — it’s essential.

Grassroots sports clubs are often volunteer-run, reliant on donations, and juggling limited resources to cover everything from equipment and travel to facilities and league fees. Without sponsorship, many simply wouldn’t survive.

The Value of Grassroots Sport

Grassroots sports aren’t just a way to keep kids active — they offer huge social value:

Children involved in regular sport are 50% more likely to report higher life satisfaction (Sport England, 2022).
Participation in team sport is linked to improved mental health, confidence, and resilience.
Grassroots clubs contribute an estimated £85 billion to the UK economy annually, largely through health benefits, social impact, and community cohesion (Sport England, 2019).
Yet more than 40% of local sports clubs say they struggle financially and rely on external sponsors to keep going.

These clubs are doing incredible work, often quietly and without recognition, helping shape the next generation and they need support.

How We’re Getting Involved

We’ve chosen to spread our sponsorship budget across several local clubs, not because it brings the most eyeballs, but because it brings the most value. Right now, we’re proudly supporting:

🏉 Ynysybwl Minis Rugby
🏌️‍♂️ Mountain Ash Golf Club
🏏 Hopkinstown Cricket Club U11s – who just became league champions in only their second season!
💪 Zak Blacker – youth player at Pontypridd RFC in his first full youth year

For us, the reward is in seeing local kids smiling in their team colours, knowing we’ve played a small role in giving them opportunities, confidence, and maybe even lifelong memories.

Why Your Business Should Consider It Too

Supporting grassroots sport isn’t just for big brands. In fact, small local businesses are the backbone of grassroots sponsorships. And it doesn’t need to cost the earth – in many cases, sponsorship packages start at just a few hundred pounds for the season. You’ll build goodwill in the community, strengthen your brand locally, and get exposure that’s often more trusted and personal than a billboard or banner ad.

Final Thoughts

If you're reviewing your marketing budget, ask yourself this: can part of it go towards something meaningful? You might not get a corporate hospitality box, but you’ll get something far more valuable, a connection with your community and the knowledge that you’ve made a real difference. So, what about you? Do you support grassroots sport? If not, maybe it’s time to start.