How to Fundraise for a Hockey Club: Ideas That Actually Work for UK Teams

If your hockey club needs to cover pitch hire, umpires, sticks, balls and the ever-rising cost of astroturf bookings, the quickest and most reliable way to raise money is a regular, online 50/50 draw or club lottery that runs in the background all season. A compliant platform like Play Fund Win lets you set one up in around ten minutes, keep your share of every ticket sold, and collect payments automatically — so your committee spends less time chasing cash and more time on the pitch. Below are the methods that genuinely work for UK grassroots hockey clubs, and how to run them properly.

Start with a regular income, not a one-off

Most clubs lurch from one event to the next. The clubs that stay financially healthy build a predictable monthly income first, then add events on top. The two best tools for this are:

• A weekly or monthly 50/50 draw: one lucky winner and the club share the pot, 50/50 after the platform fee. It's simple, transparent and people understand it instantly.
• A club lottery or membership draw: supporters pay a small recurring amount (say £2–£5 a month) for an ongoing chance to win, giving you reliable, year-round cash flow.

Because these run online, parents, players, alumni and local supporters can join from anywhere — not just the people who happen to be at Saturday's match.

Get membership and subs right

It sounds obvious, but unpaid subs are the single biggest leak in most clubs' finances. Move subscriptions online with automated reminders and card payments so you're not relying on cash in an envelope. Consider tiered membership — junior, student, social and playing — so everyone pays a fair share. Clear, easy-to-pay subs free up your volunteers to focus on the fundraising that adds extra money on top.

Raffles and prize draws that pull their weight

A well-run raffle is still one of hockey's most dependable earners, especially around an end-of-season dinner, a tournament or Christmas. Approach local businesses for prizes — a sports shop, a physio, a café near the pitch — and sell tickets online so away players and family members can take part too. Digital raffles remove the messy paper tickets and let you track exactly how much you've raised in real time.

Sponsorship: think beyond the shirt

Shirt sponsorship is the classic, but you have far more to offer a local business than the front of a kit. Consider:

• Sponsoring a specific team (men's, women's, juniors or the new development side).
• Pitch-side banners or matchday programme adverts.
• Backing a single 50/50 draw or raffle, with the sponsor named as the prize partner.
• Match-ball or tournament sponsorship for a one-off event.

Local businesses want visible community goodwill, so make it easy for them to say yes with a simple one-page offer and a clear list of what they get in return.

Events that suit a hockey crowd

Events build community as well as funds. The ones that work best for hockey clubs tend to be social and low-effort to organise: a quiz night in the clubhouse, an end-of-season awards dinner, a summer tournament with a barbecue and bar, or a sponsored skills challenge for the juniors. Sell tickets and take payments online in advance — it cuts no-shows and gives you a clear idea of numbers and income before the day.

Stay on the right side of the rules

Fundraising that involves prizes and paid entry can fall under UK gambling law, so it's worth getting this right. In short:

• Small raffles run entirely at a single event (tickets sold and drawn on the day) usually need no licence.
• A draw or lottery where tickets are sold in advance or online generally needs to be registered — either as a small society lottery with your local authority, or operated under a licensed platform.
• Entrants must be 18 or over, and you should describe clearly how proceeds support the club.

The simplest way to stay compliant is to run your draws and lotteries through a platform built for it. Play Fund Win handles the regulatory framework — including Gambling Commission requirements and age verification — so your volunteers don't have to become legal experts overnight. If in doubt, check with your local licensing authority or the Gambling Commission before you sell a single ticket.

Bring it together

The strongest hockey clubs combine a steady base — sorted subs plus a regular 50/50 or lottery — with a couple of well-timed events and a handful of genuine local sponsors. You don't need to do everything at once. Pick one recurring income stream, set it up properly, and build from there.

Ready to get started? You can launch a compliant 50/50 draw, club lottery or online raffle for your hockey club in about ten minutes, with nothing up front, at playfundwin.com.