A Step-by-Step Guide on How to Start a Football Club Successfully
2025-11-11 13:00
Having spent over a decade working in sports management and consulting for emerging football clubs, I've witnessed firsthand how the right foundation can transform an ambitious idea into a thriving football institution. Just last week, I was analyzing a basketball game from the Philippine Basketball Association where Meralco's Bong Quinto demonstrated something remarkable - playing through a painful right knee injury to contribute 19 points despite his team's perfect 3-1 record being snapped. That kind of commitment and resilience perfectly illustrates what separates successful sports organizations from those that fade away quickly. Starting a football club requires that same blend of passion, strategic planning, and the ability to persevere through inevitable challenges.
The journey begins with establishing your club's identity and legal framework, which sounds bureaucratic but honestly forms the bedrock of everything that follows. I always advise aspiring club founders to spend significant time developing their club's philosophy - are you focusing on youth development, community engagement, or competitive success? This isn't just theoretical; it directly influences your recruitment, training methods, and even sponsorship opportunities. I've seen clubs make the mistake of trying to be everything to everyone and ending up with no clear direction. You'll need to register as a business entity, secure insurance, and establish governance structures. The paperwork might seem tedious, but having handled the incorporation for three different clubs myself, I can confirm that proper legal foundation prevents countless headaches later.
Financial planning deserves its own chapter because let's be honest - passion doesn't pay the bills. When I helped launch North London United five years ago, we allocated approximately $150,000 for the first season alone, covering everything from pitch rentals to equipment and coaching salaries. You'll need multiple revenue streams from day one: membership fees, local sponsorships, merchandise, and potentially small grants from sports councils or football associations. I'm particularly fond of the German model where clubs maintain member ownership, creating incredible community buy-in. Your budget should account for both expected expenses and that inevitable rainy day when, much like Bong Quinto playing through injury, your club will need to push forward despite financial discomfort.
Building your squad and technical team requires both art and science. I've made my share of recruitment mistakes early in my career - signing technically gifted players who didn't fit our system or shared our values. The most successful clubs I've worked with spend as much time evaluating character as they do assessing technical ability. Look at how Bong Quinto contributed 19 points despite injury - that's the mentality you want throughout your organization. For a new club, I'd recommend starting with 18-22 committed players rather than a massive squad with varying dedication levels. Your coaching staff needs to share your philosophy while bringing complementary skills - perhaps one specializes in tactical development while another excels at player motivation.
Facilities and infrastructure often become the most visible representation of your club's ambitions. You don't need a state-of-the-art stadium immediately - in fact, I'd argue against over-investing in facilities early on. Many successful clubs I've consulted for started with shared community pitches and basic changing facilities. What matters more is consistency and creating an environment where players feel valued and can develop. I remember visiting a club in Portugal that had converted a shipping container into their team office - it was modest but perfectly functional for their needs. The key is securing reliable facilities that allow for proper training schedules and create a sense of home for your players.
Marketing and community engagement separate surviving clubs from thriving ones. In today's digital landscape, you need a strong online presence from day one. When we launched Manchester Rivers FC, we focused heavily on social media storytelling, sharing our journey transparently - the highs, the lows, and everything in between. This authenticity helped build a loyal following before we'd even played our first competitive match. Partner with local businesses, schools, and community organizations. I've found that local sponsorship deals ranging from $2,000 to $15,000 annually often provide more stability than chasing one major sponsor. Create events that make your club a community hub rather than just a sports team.
The operational rhythm of running a football club becomes all-consuming if you're not careful. During match days, you're managing everything from volunteer coordination to spectator experience. Between matches, there's player development, administrative tasks, and strategic planning. What many new club founders underestimate is the emotional toll - the wins feel incredible, but the losses can be devastating. I've learned to celebrate small victories: a player's technical improvement, positive community feedback, or simply having everyone show up for training in terrible weather. These moments build the club's character more than any single result.
Looking at the long-term perspective, the most successful clubs I've studied all share a commitment to continuous evolution while staying true to their core values. They develop clear pathways for player development, invest in youth academies, and maintain financial discipline. Much like Bong Quinto's valiant performance through injury, your club will face moments that test its resilience - perhaps a string of losses, financial shortfalls, or key departures. How you navigate these challenges will define your club's character more than any victory ever could. The clubs that endure are those that build something greater than any individual player, coach, or season - they become institutions that represent their communities and create lasting legacies.
Heather Bolton Suber ’02
Leah Schnell ’01
Sarah Grimes Wiggins ’93
Dr. Ralph Swearngin
Point University will induct four members into the Athletics Hall of Fame during a luncheon on Friday, October 24, during Homecoming weekend.
The class of 2025 includes Leah Schnell ’01, Heather Bolton Suber ’02, Dr. Ralph Swearngin and Sarah Grimes Wiggins ’93. The Athletics Hall of Fame was launched in May 2024, when six inaugural members were inducted.
“We look forward to honoring the second Hall of Fame class during Homecoming,” said Jaunelle White, vice president of intercollegiate athletics and chief student development officer. “It’s always a great feeling to have our alumni back on campus mingling with our current student-athletes and coaches. These individuals were elite during their time at Atlanta Christian College and deserve to be recognized.”
Schnell attended Atlanta Christian College from 1998 to 2001, where she earned a degree in business while competing in both basketball and volleyball. On the basketball court, she earned First Team All-Conference, Scholar Athlete, and First Team All-American honors for three consecutive years. Schnell also held the title of all-time leading scorer from 1998-2001. She now thrives as a commercial construction project manager at Barnsley Construction Group and as an entrepreneur.
Suber, from Havana, Florida, attended ACC from 1998 to 2002. A dedicated two-sport athlete, she earned numerous accolades, including First Team All-Conference, Second Team All-Conference, Honorable Mention and First Team All-American. One of her most memorable achievements came when she made eleven three-pointers in a single game. Suber graduated with a degree in early childhood education and went on to earn a master’s degree in education and a specialist degree in instructional technology. For over 23 years, she has served as an educator.
Swearngin has had a distinguished career in education, athletics and ministry spanning several decades, including 20 years at ACC in roles such as professor, dean of students, athletics director and coach. He held national leadership positions with the NCCAA, served as a trustee of Point University for over 10 years, and worked extensively in ministry and education in California, earning degrees from Whittier College and Georgia State University. His athletic involvement includes 23 years as a high school football official in California and Georgia, 22 years with the Georgia High School Association — retiring as executive director in 2014 — and service on national football and softball rules committees. Honored with multiple Hall of Fame inductions and the Atlanta Falcons Lifetime Achievement Award, Swearngin has authored two books and remains active in retirement through preaching and leading Bible studies, alongside his wife of 58 years, Evelyn.
Wiggins grew up in Roswell, Georgia, where she began playing basketball at the age of ten. After two years at Florida State University, she transferred to ACC in 1990. While at ACC, Wiggins was named to the All-American team in both 1991 and 1992. In her final year, she led her team in scoring, helping them finish second in the nation, and was named national MVP in 1992. She earned a bachelor of science in elementary education in 1993 and later received a master’s degree in technology and media sciences from Georgia Southern University in 2009. For the past 33 years, Wiggins has worked as a dedicated educator. In 1997, she married Todd Wiggins. Together, they have two children, Preston, 26, and Logan, 22.
