For grassroots and non-league clubs, financial sustainability rarely comes from matchday income alone. Bowers & Pitsea FC found an unexpected solution when two young supporters, Billy and Zach, suggested installing an InPost locker at the ground. What started as a fan's idea has become a hassle-free revenue stream and a daily draw for the local community.

In this Q&A, club representatives, a player, and a volunteer share what the installation process involved, the impact on the club's finances and footfall, and why the locker has become part of the matchday and training routine for players, coaches, and parents alike.

INSTALLATION & OPERATIONS

How did you first hear about the opportunity to install an InPost Locker? 

It actually came directly from inside our own community! Billy and Zach, two of our young supporters, brought the idea to us. They saw the potential for how useful it would be at the ground, so we looked into it based on their recommendation.

Was the process of applying for and having the lockers installed straightforward, and what did it entail? 

The entire process was very easy and straightforward from start to finish. InPost handled the logistics, making sure the site location was suitable, and the physical installation went smoothly without causing any disruption to our day-to-day operations at the club.

What does the day-to-day running involve? Do you need to manage or maintain the locker at all? 

There is zero day-to-day maintenance required from our end - InPost handles all of the upkeep and servicing directly. For us as a club run by busy volunteers, having a hassle-free amenity that generates value without requiring any extra staff time or management is a huge win.

IMPACT & BENEFITS

How significant are alternative revenue streams like this for football club sustainability? 

They are massively important. For grassroots and non-league clubs, relying purely on matchdays, bar sales, or player subscriptions isn't enough to secure long-term financial stability. What makes initiatives like the InPost Lockers so game-changing is that once the initial setup is complete, they deliver reliable, passive income with virtually zero ongoing work for our committee. It’s opened our eyes to how we use our physical footprint. Every passive revenue stream we add helps cushion the club against rising facility costs and lets us reinvest directly back into our teams and infrastructure."

Outside of revenue, what are the other benefits you’ve seen to having lockers on-site?

The biggest bonus has been community engagement and footfall.  The lockers bring members of the local community onto our grounds every single day who might otherwise never have visited Bowers & Pitsea FC. It cements the club as a genuine community hub, not just a venue that opens on matchdays. For our players, coaches, and parents, it’s immensely practical. They can drop off or pick up parcels right before training or after a match without making a separate trip. Getting local residents accustomed to visiting our site naturally boosts local awareness of the club, our fixtures, and our clubhouse facilities.

CLUB IMPACT

In one sentence, what does having an InPost Locker mean for your club? 

Having an InPost Locker has turned unused space into a hassle-free, passive revenue stream while cementing our ground as a vital, high-footfall hub for the local community.

If you could describe the impact in three words, what would they be?

Valuable. Accessible. Seamless. 

PLAYERS/VOLUNTEERS

Do you tend to use the InPost Lockers on-site often and if so, how beneficial has it been having them located somewhere you regularly visit? 

I use them all the time now! Between work, training, and weekend matches, finding time to run errands like returning or picking up parcels can be a pain. Having the locker right here at the ground means I can just drop off a package on my way into changing or grab a delivery right after session. It saves a separate trip and genuinely fits seamlessly into my weekly routine. – Player 

I use them all the time. As a volunteer, I'm at the ground pretty frequently throughout the week, so it’s hugely convenient to drop off returns or collect deliveries while I’m already here getting things ready for matchday. It’s a great addition to the club’s facilities that everyone actually makes use of. – Volunteer

Hear from Essex FA:

Congratulations to Bowers & Pitsea FC on their new InPost Locker facility! By utilising existing, unused space, the club has unlocked a guaranteed annual income starting from £800 with zero upfront costs or maintenance responsibilities. Managing rising running costs is a challenge for many grassroots clubs, and this initiative offers a hassle-free, sustainable revenue stream while creating a vital service hub for the local neighbourhood. We encourage other affiliated clubs across Essex to follow Bowers & Pitsea's lead, look at their own available space, and register their interest to explore this opportunity.