Support your club while you shop

A new sports fundraising platform has teamed up with big named retailers to help provide income for profes­sional, national and local sports clubs and orga­­nisa­­tions.

Fantastic Fanatics is the UK’s only dedicated sports fundraising platform which links online and in-store retailers with fans, to deliver a new revenue stream to professional sports clubs, of all sizes. The clubs simply get paid whenever their fans and members shop, eat out, book hotels and lots more.

During lockdown, with sports fixtures cancelled and clubs facing huge financial losses, Fantastic Fanatics gives sports fans the opportunity to support their favourite club without it costing them a penny.

Sports fans can sign up to Fantastic Fanatics to help their sports clubs, whether that be national orga­­nisa­­tions, professional clubs or, local community groups, and members are directed towards retailers via a user-friendly online dashboard. Hundreds of retail partners online include B&Q, Sky, John Lewis, Boots and ASOS, with national and local in-store companies such as KFC on board.

Funds are collected directly during the transaction, with no upfront costs and no requirement for additional hardware or software for retailers. Sports fans securely register their bank cards online with Fantastic Fanatics and commissions up to 10% are paid directly to the fan’s chosen sports club. The platform, originally developed in Scotland, has been welcomed by sports bodies including Scottish Swimming and Scottish Hockey.

Founder Barry Munro said: “When none of us are allowed to go and watch our favourite teams play, and clubs both at grass roots and national level are struggling for cash, this is the perfect way for fans to still show some support during lockdown.

“The technology is next generation, where fans, parents, club members and committees can instantly see how much money they have raised in near real-time.

“Compared to other online fundraising platforms, the percentage donation paid to the clubs is impressive with many around 5% on each transaction. It is all designed to boost sales for retailers while sports clubs receive a welcome and regular boost in income. With hundreds of online retailers on board, it is clear that chosen clubs will quickly start to see an impressive level of new income, which will be a real boost for clubs not seeing any income at the turnstiles.

“We have had a great start with local and national retailers and sports clubs, and our nation-wide and global retailers enable us to extend the opportunity across the UK. We have clubs from across the UK taking part, including Club 1872 [ https://­­club1872.­­co.­­uk/­­news/­­fantastic-fanatics-partnership-anno­­un­­cement/ ] in Glasgow and Hull City Supporters Trust in England, whose fans are generating income without leaving their homes. Fantastic Fanatics has an interesting mix of big brand and local shopping and we are able to support small children’s sports clubs, golf clubs, swimming orga­nisa­tions all the way up to professional football and rugby.”

Club 1872 Director, Laura Fawkes said: “We are delighted to agree this partnership with Fantastic Fanatics. We all know the scale of the Rangers support within the UK and across the world and this partnership could raise significant funds for the organisation and give us much greater flexibility to grow our membership through additional advertising activity.

We appreciate how difficult things are for many of our supporters currently and the financial uncertainty which the Covid-19 pandemic has brought, along with ongoing health concerns. The fact that this method of raising funds for the organisation does not cost our supporters anything and will allow us to benefit from purchases they are making anyway, made the proposition very attractive.”

Geoff Bielby, Chairman of Hull City Supporters Trust said: “We are delighted to be in partnership with Fantastic Fanatics. Hull City Supporters Trust is one of the leading fans orga­nisa­tions and this partnership could generate significant funds which will help us further develop a balanced and constructive relationship between Hull City AFC and its supporters, plus the communities both the supporters and the club serve.

“This is a difficult time for the trust and its supporters alike so it’s great to be involved with a platform that doesn’t cost the fans anything and trust funds can be raised from the comfort of their own home. Our supporters are shopping with many of the Fantastic Fanatics retail partners already so to receive a commission on these sales made the decision for us to become a beneficiary extremely easy. HCST are hoping to be able to extend our community support with commissions received.”