Gamechanging Futures
TOBY BULA-EDGE
As we sweat our way through the third heatwave of the year, it’s impossible to ignore that the climate is changing. That’s why Hastings United FC and Bexhill United FC are part of Gamechanging Futures, a National Lottery-funded project to help six English sports clubs adapt to the new climate.
The effects of the climate on sport are already apparent. Wimbledon has faced delays due to extreme heat, while at the World Cup, players are taking hydration breaks mid-game due to the heat, much to the consternation of the crowd (arguably an absurdity, because in this heat most people can’t even move off the sofa). The hydration breaks, however, do seem to be a flash of common sense from FIFA in a World Cup that is expected to be the most polluting yet.
On the smaller stage, the effect is perhaps more widely felt. Across England climate-related damage and disruptions to grassroots sport have produced a financial toll estimated at £320 million. These disruptions have a knock-on effect for communities, with pitches and sports areas being unavailable for local groups and clubs.
It isn’t just heat that has an impact. Geoff Martin, Media Manager at Bexhill United FC, highlights that: “Pitch irrigation and wildly fluctuating wet and dry spells leave us on a knife-edge with cancellations.” A third of community pitches across England are unplayable for up to two months of the season due to flooding and waterlogging.
Gamechanging Futures aims to help clubs adapt to these changes and help limit their impact on the environment. It’s a three-year project – supported by £1.5 million of National Lottery funding – being led by environmental charities Climate Outreach and Pledgeball. There are six participating clubs across the country, including local Hastings United FC and Bexhill United FC.
Hastings United FC will launch Play It Forward. This will keep football boots and kits in play through donation, repair, exchange and redistribution. Sally Greig, Director at Hastings United FC, says that this aims to “reduce sports kit waste, make football more affordable, and ensure that no player is left out of the game because they lack the right equipment” – as well as contributing, even in a small way, to a more eco-friendly approach.
Just down the road, Bexhill United FC plan to install LED footlights, cutting energy usage in the future as part of their bid to reduce further climate damage.
Rachel Orr, CEO of Climate Outreach, says: “Fans and players of grassroots sport are already feeling the effects of our changing climate. But they are also at the forefront of driving possible change. From installing solar panels to bringing down bills to creating accessible low carbon clubhouses, clubs are taking action to lower emissions and build community pride. We’re really excited to be working with these clubs to see what more we can achieve together.”
A recent report by the Climate Change Committee said that adaptation cannot wait – as evidenced in part by the struggles sports clubs face. That’s why they’re taking action now to change the game for future generations.
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