The growth and development of disability football in Staffordshire has received a significant boost thanks to the support of a cashback website.
Stafford-based TopCashback has become the first ‘Disability Football Partner’ of the Staffordshire Football Association (FA).
The partnership will enable Staffordshire FA and its network of grassroots clubs, leagues, and other key stakeholders, to collectively work together to provide further opportunities for more people with disabilities to play football across the county.
There are currently 59 disability football teams across Staffordshire, providing playing opportunities for 483 players, playing in the Staffordshire Youth and Adult Ability Counts Leagues, which will now be renamed the ‘TopCashback Ability Counts League’.
In addition to supporting the growth and development of the Ability Counts League, the partnership with TopCashback will also support Staffordshire FA’s delivery of disability football coach development events, and a disability football referee’s course.
Oliver Ragg, CEO and Co-founder of TopCashback, said:“Supporting grassroots football is about more than just the game, it’s about building an inclusive community where everyone, regardless of background or ability has the chance to play, grow, and belong.
“Under our Cashback for Good initiative at TopCashback, we’re proud to champion fair play, which means treating everyone that the business has a relationship with – members, colleagues, retail clients, suppliers and stakeholders – in a fair way. Being the Official Disability Football Partner of the Staffordshire Football Association, we strive to ensure football is open and welcoming to all, making sure the true spirit of the game thrives at every level.”
As a not-for-profit organisation, Staffordshire FA reinvest its commercial partnership income into growing and developing local grassroots football, via the Association’s strategic objectives in its 2024-28 strategy, ‘Supporting Staffordshire Football to enhance our Communities’. The support received via the TopCashback partnership will enable Staffordshire FA to make a significant difference enhancing the disability game.
Gareth Thomas, Commercial and Partnerships Lead at Staffordshire FA: “As Staffordshire FA continues to develop our commercial partnership strategy, we are keen to work with Staffordshire-based companies who share our passion for enhancing the health and wellbeing of our local communities via participation in grassroots football.
“From our initial meeting with Michelle Hayes, the Internal Communications and Events Manager, it was very apparent just how much brilliant work TopCashback are doing to positively impact on the local community in Staffordshire.
“The Association were looking to recruit a partner to support our current and future aspirations to grow and develop disability football across Staffordshire, and we’re delighted that TopCashback have come on board to support us on that journey.”
