Stockport County has committed to support grassroots football across the borough for the 2026/27 season. The League One club's annual fund delivered direct grants and equipment vouchers to 23 local clubs, with a focus on growing girls' football and aiding communities in need.
The club announced the initiative on Thursday. The club's Community Trust managed the application and delivery process for the fund, which awarded direct financial grants alongside equipment vouchers. Partner Net World Sports provided the discounted equipment vouchers to help clubs access better training gear.
The 2026/27 Grassroots Fund represents a continuing commitment from Stockport County to local football development. Steve Bellis, the Club President, explained the program's broad impact. "The feedback from clubs this year has once again shown just how valuable this fund continues to be across our local football community," Bellis said. "Whether that's helping clubs keep football affordable for families, supporting the growth of girls' teams, investing in coaching or creating opportunities for more young people to play, the impact reaches far beyond the pitch."
Money for the fund was raised in part through April's Grassroots Giving Month, which included fundraising during the Vertu Trophy final. Fan Phill Green was among those who made donations during that campaign. The club's investment comes as the first team prepares for their next League One fixture, sitting ninth in the standings with six points from four matches.
Net World Sports serves as the equipment partner for the grassroots initiative. Damon Traverse, the company's Marketing Manager, highlighted their commitment to community football. "At Net World Sports, we believe every club, no matter the size, deserves access to premium training equipment," Traverse said. "Partnering with Stockport County FC allows us to give back directly to the grassroots teams that form the beating heart of the local sports community."
The equipment vouchers help clubs purchase necessary gear without straining their limited budgets. This practical support complements the direct financial grants that clubs can use for various operational needs.
While investing in community football, Stockport County's first team continues its League One campaign. The Hatters currently occupy ninth position with two wins and two losses from their opening four fixtures. They've scored nine goals while conceding six, giving them a positive goal difference of three. Dave Challinor's side sits four points behind early leaders Huddersfield Town as they prepare for their next challenge.
County faces a trip to face Wigan Athletic on Saturday, September 5th. Wigan currently sits 22nd in the table, making this an important opportunity for Stockport to build momentum. Fans can check the full fixtures schedule for upcoming matches throughout September. The club extended best wishes to all grassroots clubs, players, coaches, and volunteers for the new season as both community and professional football move forward together.
The team travels to the DW Stadium this weekend looking to improve on their recent form of loss-win-loss-win.
