Sponsors and Partners

Utilita launch new #SwitchBeforePitch Campaign

The ESFA is delighted to support the new campaign, helping to teach children and schools’ football players the value of saving energy

If you didn’t spot it on breakfast television yesterday morning, a new national campaign launched yesterday (Monday 28 September) based on the “˜State of Play’ report, which has revealed how Covid-19 has impacted grassroots football clubs across the UK, with around 4,000 fearing they won’t exist in 12-months’ time.  

The report and campaign has been launched by Utilita, the smart PAYG energy provider, who is also a Principal  Partner for the English Schools FA. Fronting the campaign is former England and Liverpool goalkeeper, David James. Watch David talk about the campaign launch on Good Morning Britain  in the video above. So far, the campaign has been covered by over  350 media outlets, including attracting attention from European and US media.  

How can you get involved and benefit?  

There are three main ways: 

  1. Spread the word amongst clubs – tell them to visit  www.utilita.co.uk/switch-before-pitch or search ‘Utilita Football’ on social media  to access ways to save money, raise money, and win football equipment. A monthly newsletter will be packed with tips and advice  
  1. Tell parents about the campaign, as the savings they can make by making small tweaks to the way they use energy at home may mean the difference between affording subs which enable their kids to play. Batches of campaign leaflets are available for book bags, or to hand out at matches – please email  [email protected] with the quantity required and address for sending
  1. For ESFA Members and competing schools, look out for the annual EFSA handbook in the post – we will include 2 x Switch Before Pitch posters for you to display in high footfall areas. These include the table below, which shows what energy savings can be made, and how they equate to affording vital football equipment.  

We  believe in this campaign

Andrea Chilton, CEO at the English Schools Football Association (ESFA) comments on why the Association is supporting the Switch Before Pitch campaign:

“As children return to playing football again at school, the extension of   football outside of the school setting is critical in terms of the mental and physical health benefits as well as the opportunity to learn important life skills – often demonstrated across our hundreds of district and county teams.We are big supporters of Utilita’s Switch Before Pitch campaign as it is educating young players about energy efficiency, whilst saving households money. The cost savings will go some way in helping to take the pressure off families through the financial struggle that many face, as a result of Covid-19.”

Please join us in supporting the campaign, in the interest of conserving schools’ football in the UK

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