The Entain Foundation and the Trident Leagues have created the Pitching In Volunteer Hub – an online portal that aims to connect football fans and potential volunteers.  

Set up to assist prospective volunteers with offering their services to clubs, Entain has also promised to promote volunteering through its network of community-based Ladbrokes and Coral betting shops.

Entain first launched the Pitching In initiative in December 2020, in order to provide financial support to the three Trident Leagues – The Isthmian, Northern Premier and Southern League.- with the first round of funding beginning in March 2021.

Entain’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Grainne Hurst, commented: “As the name suggests, our ambition for Pitching In when we partnered with the Trident Leagues was not just to provide financial backing but to bring communities together and encourage everyone to play a part. The Volunteer Hub makes it easier than ever for fans to pitch in and help out their local club.”

Looking to provide a ‘simple web-based interface’ through which clubs are able to post volunteering vacancies, the launch has been created for all 248 clubs that make up the Trident Leagues.

Pitching In Ambassador and former England captain, Stuart Pearce, said: “This is a fantastic initiative that will be a real game changer for promoting volunteering at the community level. I know from my time at Wealdstone just how important volunteers are to local clubs. 

“Equally, it can be a hugely positive and rewarding experience for those that volunteer, I encourage anyone to give it a go and find out for themselves. Pitching In has been unbelievable for non-league football, providing finance at every level for the Trident Leagues. So many people have benefited from this great investment from Entain.”

Some of the activations that the hub promotes include: Matchday activities such as manning the turnstiles, stewarding and catering, pitch maintenance, ground upkeep or providing administrative and professional support.

In a joint statement, Pitching In Southern League Vice-Chairman, Anthony Hughes, Pitching In Isthmian League Chairman, Nick Robinson, and Pitching In Northern Premier League Chairman, Mark Harris, each expressed their excitement for the development along with the support from the sport betting company.

They concluded: “Volunteers are vital to the running of our clubs. We want to welcome as many as possible to play an active part in their Clubs and their communities.”