How to organise a charity football match

Charity football matches are a fun way to raise money for good causes. Players and spectators can enjoy the match and there are number of ways to raise finds from the event. Organising a charity match takes time and effort, but the rewards should make this worthwhile if the day runs smoothly.

Decide on a date first, then look for a venue. You are looking to raise money so try and find somewhere that is free. Check with the local council about the availability of public parks, or contact commercial venues and try and negotiate a cheap rate or even free hire of a pitch. Some venues will agree to donating a pitch in return for the publicity.

Find players or teams to take part. One of the ways to raise money might be to ask players to make a donation in order to play. If you want to persuade local or national celebrities to get involved, contact them via their agents, explain what they are doing and ask them to play for free or for a small fee. The bigger the celebrities, the more paying spectators you are likely to attract.

Consider how the event will make money. You might charge an admission fee or try to make money from catering. See if local businesses will sponsor the event. When the match is taking place you can run raffles or golden goal competitions. If your charity or cause has other merchandise or publicity material, use the crowd as an audience for sales or distribution.

Publicise the match. Distribute flyers locally and ask media outlets to give you free publicity. Encourage the players to promote the match on their Facebook and Twitter accounts and ask the venue to advertise the game in the days leading up to it.