Fantastic Fanatics platform will help to support football in Northern Ireland

Fantastic Fanatics have teamed up with The Irish FA to help promote football and raise funds for its Foundation.

Fantastic Fanatics, an online and retail platform developed in Scotland, enables sports enthusiasts to raise money for their clubs, trusts or governing bodies through everyday shopping.

The innovative and secure platform delivers a new revenue stream to sports clubs and trusts. 

The Irish FA Foundation will receive funds whenever their affiliated club members, participants, coaches and supporters shop, eat out and book hotels. With no cost to clubs, organisations or supporters, the platform simply generates funds when members are spending money with affiliated retailers. 

Supporters simply have to register with Fantastic Fanatics and choose the Irish FA Foundation as a beneficiary. They can then securely register their everyday debit or credit card, and purchases they make online will raise money for the foundation. 

Major retailers taking part include Boots, BT, JD Sports, B&Q, Currys PC World, John Lewis, Clarks, ASOS and Hotels.com. In the near future in-store purchases will also be supported, further increasing the flexibility of contributing to the development of football in Northern Ireland.

Irish FA Head of Sales and Marketing Stephen Bogle said: “The Foundation plays a major role in advancing football across all levels and communities as well as promoting inclusion, health, wellbeing and education right across Northern Ireland. 

“Our aims dovetail perfectly into those of Fantastic Fanatics to encourage more and more people to participate in football. Teaming up with them is free for the supporter and is really easy to use. Many of us shop with the big retailers online, so it’s easy to get involved straight away and start raising money to support and develop football in Northern Ireland.”

Fantastic Fanatics Operations Director Barry Munro added: “We are delighted to have the Irish FA onboard and we are pleased to play a part in helping raise funds to support the development of football in Northern Ireland. Hopefully Fantastic Fanatics can further support the amazing things that the Irish FA are doing on and off the pitch.

“The technology behind Fantastic Fanatics makes things so simple for the supporter as they can choose the association or club they want to support, make a purchase at one of their favourite online retailers and generate a commission, all with a few clicks of the mouse. 

“Our in-store offering means registered retailers will automatically send a percentage of the bill to the sports club – there is no extra card or app required. It’s business as usual at the point of sale for the consumer and the retailer. Ultimately Fantastic Fanatics enables sports clubs and organisations to worry less about the finances and get on with what they do best – delivering the benefits of sport to their participants, fans and members.”