Understand the club
We start with a short conversation about recurring costs, upcoming purchases and renewals. Clubs do not need to prepare a full procurement pack.
30-club validation pilot
Football clubs shouldn’t have to buy alone.
Football Buying Network is a validation-stage procurement network being developed to help grassroots and non-league clubs reduce purchasing costs and admin by combining compatible demand and inviting suppliers to compete for the business.
No cost to take part in the pilot. No obligation to change supplier.
£0club fee during the pilot
10–15 minsfor the first conversation
Your choiceno forced supplier switch
Why FBN?
Clubs often buy the same things separately.
Football clubs repeatedly purchase equipment, first aid, printing, teamwear, waste services, telecoms and other essentials. Yet many clubs source and negotiate these requirements independently.
FBN is testing whether bringing compatible demand together can give clubs stronger buying power, clearer price comparisons and less supplier admin — without taking control away from the club.
How it works
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A simple process built around club choice.
Identify buying opportunities
Where several clubs need similar products or services, FBN can combine that demand and test whether better commercial terms are available.
Let suppliers compete
Suppliers can quote against real demand. The club sees the opportunity and chooses whether or not to proceed.
What clubs buy
Starting with everyday football costs.
FBN is initially focusing on categories where multiple clubs are likely to have repeat or overlapping demand.
Footballs & training equipment
Goals, nets & pitch equipment
First aid & medical supplies
Print, signage & promotional items
Trophies & medals
Teamwear
Waste & recurring services
Broadband & telecoms
The pilot may uncover other categories worth testing. FBN is not asking clubs to move every supplier or contract.
The 30-club pilot
We are proving the workflow before automating it.
FBN is currently running a 30-club validation pilot and initial club outreach is underway. The aim is to work directly with clubs, understand real purchasing behaviour, identify genuine shared demand and measure whether the model produces worthwhile savings.
There is no cost for a club to take part in the pilot and no obligation to buy through FBN or change an existing supplier.
What participation looks like
- A 10–15 minute initial conversation
- Share broad purchasing needs and upcoming renewals
- Choose what information you are comfortable providing
- Review any relevant group-buying opportunity
- Decide independently whether the offer works for your club
Built around trust
What clubs should expect from FBN.
Transparent
The pilot is designed to keep participation free for clubs. Where qualifying FBN-generated business completes, FBN may earn an agreed commission from the supplier.
Club-led
The club keeps the final decision. FBN exists to create and compare opportunities, not force purchasing choices.
Evidence-first
The pilot is designed to prove real savings and useful outcomes before we make bigger claims or invest in complex software.
About FBN
Starting locally. Building from evidence.
Football Buying Network is being developed by Lee Holness in Kent. The starting question is straightforward: can football clubs save meaningful money and time when compatible purchasing demand is brought together?
The priority remains working directly with clubs and suppliers and proving what works. In parallel, the foundations of the future FBN platform are being developed so real pilot behaviour can determine what should be automated and how the system should work.
Common questions
Before you take part.
Does the club pay to join the pilot?
No. There is no cost to a club to take part in the validation pilot.
Do we have to change suppliers?
No. Clubs remain in control of their purchasing decisions. If an FBN opportunity is not right for your club, you do not have to proceed.
Do we need to share sensitive financial information?
No. The pilot focuses on purchasing categories, approximate spend, suppliers, renewal timing and buying needs. Clubs should not share bank details, card details, passwords, payroll data or other unnecessary sensitive information.
How will FBN make money?
The pilot model is supplier-funded. Clubs do not pay to take part. Where qualifying FBN-generated business completes, FBN can earn an agreed supplier commission. Any future optional services would be introduced separately and transparently.
Who pays whom if we place an order?
The club orders from and pays the supplier directly. FBN does not take the club’s purchase money. Once the supplier confirms qualifying FBN-generated business has completed and been paid, FBN separately reconciles and invoices any agreed supplier commission.
Interested?
Help test whether football clubs can buy better together.
A short conversation is enough to start.