If you run a grassroots football club, selling tickets online probably feels like something only the big clubs do. But it does not have to be complicated, and it definitely does not have to cost you money.
This guide walks you through exactly how to set up online ticket sales for your club, from choosing a platform to managing matchday scanning.
Why sell football tickets online?
The cash-on-the-gate model has served grassroots football for decades. But it has real drawbacks. You never know how many people are coming. You cannot plan catering or steward numbers. And counting cash at the end of the day is nobody's idea of a good time.
Online ticketing solves all of these problems. You get advance sales data, guaranteed revenue before kick-off, and a complete record of who attended. It also makes it much easier to sell season tickets, which gives your club reliable income throughout the season.
Choosing a ticketing platform
Most ticketing platforms charge booking fees or take a percentage of each sale. For a grassroots club selling £10 tickets, those fees add up fast.
Platforms like Eventbrite charge 6.95% plus 59p per ticket. On 200 tickets at £10, that is £257 gone before you have paid for anything. Over a 20-match season, you could lose over £5,000 to fees alone.
tickts is a free alternative built specifically for grassroots sport. There are no booking fees, no commission, and no setup costs. Payments go directly to your club's Stripe account.
Setting up your first event
Here is how to get your club selling tickets in under ten minutes:
- Create an account — Sign up as an organiser on tickts. It takes two minutes.
- Connect Stripe — Link your club's Stripe account so payments go directly to you. If you do not have one, Stripe takes about five minutes to set up.
- Create an event — Add your season or event name, then add individual fixture dates with opponents, kick-off times, and venue.
- Set ticket types — Create adult, concession, child, and family ticket types with your prices and quantities.
- Publish — Your event page is live. Share the link on social media, your club website, and WhatsApp groups.
Selling season tickets
Season tickets are where online sales really shine. Create a single event with all your home fixtures, then add a season ticket type that covers every match. Each fixture gets its own QR code, so you can scan season ticket holders at every game.
This gives you a big chunk of guaranteed income before the season starts, which is invaluable for budgeting kit, pitch maintenance, league fees, and everything else that keeps a grassroots club running.
Matchday scanning
On matchday, you do not need any special equipment. Send your gate staff or volunteers a magic link. They open it on their smartphone and start scanning QR codes. Each ticket validates in real time, so you know exactly who has arrived.
No app to install, no hardware to buy, no training needed. If someone can use a phone camera, they can scan tickets.
Promoting your ticket sales
The biggest challenge for most clubs is not the technology — it is getting the word out. Here are a few things that work:
- Share the link everywhere — Post your event page on Facebook, Instagram, X, and your club's WhatsApp groups.
- Pin it to your website — Add a clear "Buy Tickets" button on your homepage.
- Early bird pricing — Offer a discount for fans who buy season tickets before a deadline.
- Promo codes — Create codes for sponsors, committee members, or matchday hospitality packages.
The bottom line
Selling football tickets online does not need to be expensive or complicated. With the right platform, your club can be up and running in minutes, with zero fees eating into your revenue.
Every pound your club keeps is a pound that goes towards the pitch, the kit, and the community. That is what grassroots football is about.
Step-by-Step Setup
Getting your grassroots football club selling tickets online takes about 10 minutes:
- Create your account: Register on tickts.co.uk with your email and set up your organiser profile. Add your club name, crest, a short description, and contact details.
- Connect Stripe: Link your bank account through Stripe Connect. This is where ticket revenue is deposited — straight to your club bank account within 2 business days.
- Create your season: Set up a parent event for the season (e.g., "2025/26 Home Fixtures") and add each match as a sub-event with its own date, time, and opponent details.
- Set ticket types: Create Adult, Concession, Child, and Under-5 tickets with appropriate pricing. Add a Season Pass ticket type for fans who want access to every home match.
- Publish and share: Your event page goes live with a unique URL. Share it on social media, your club website, and through your mailing list.
Promoting Your Online Tickets
The biggest challenge for clubs moving from cash-on-the-gate to online ticketing is changing fan behaviour. Here is how to make the transition smooth:
- Announce it early: Tell fans at the last match of the previous season that tickets will be online next season. Put up signs at the ground.
- Make it visible: Pin the ticket link to your social media profiles. Include it in every social post about upcoming matches.
- Keep cash as a backup: For the first few matches, accept both online tickets and cash at the gate. This eases the transition for fans who are less tech-savvy.
- Show the benefits: Explain to fans that buying online means no queuing, guaranteed entry, and support for the club (because zero-fee ticketing means more revenue for the club).
Matchday Operations
On matchday, one volunteer with a smartphone can handle ticket scanning for a typical grassroots crowd of 50-300. Position them at the main entrance 30 minutes before kick-off. The Tickts scanner validates each ticket in about one second — fast enough to keep the queue moving even when most fans arrive in the 15 minutes before kick-off.
Revenue Impact
Moving to online ticketing typically increases revenue for grassroots clubs in three ways:
- Higher attendance: Pre-sold tickets mean more committed fans who show up regardless of weather. Most clubs see a 10-15% attendance increase after moving online.
- Pre-match spending: Fans who arrive with pre-bought tickets spend time at the bar or food stand instead of queuing at the gate.
- Data-driven growth: Email addresses from ticket buyers let you promote future matches, events, and merchandise directly to people who have already shown they will pay to watch.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I still need someone on the gate?
Yes — you need someone to scan tickets. But instead of handling cash, counting change, and tracking numbers on paper, they are simply pointing a phone at QR codes. It is faster, more accurate, and less stressful.
What about away fans?
Share your Tickts event link with the opposition club to include in their communications. Away fans buy through the same event page. If you segregate home and away, create a separate "Away Supporter" ticket type.
Can I offer group discounts for youth teams?
Yes. Create a promo code for visiting youth teams or schools that gives a discount or free entry. This is great for building relationships with local youth football and growing your future fan base.
Curious how tickts compares? See our side-by-side comparison of tickts vs Eventbrite: fees, payouts, and features for UK organisers.
