Football Trade Directory

What Football Trade Directory does

Football Trade Directory (FTD), trading under parent entity Sportsglobal (UK) Ltd (Company No. 6790604), is a niche UK B2B directory and events business founded in 2007 and headquartered in Leyland, Lancashire, with a secondary office in London. The company's core product is a curated online directory connecting football clubs — from Premier League to grassroots — with over 2,000 vetted suppliers across more than 180 service categories, supplemented by an annual printed Football & Rugby Trade Directory (132 pages, 18th volume in 2025) distributed free into clubs. A parallel Rugby Trade Directory (RTD) extends the platform into the rugby club ecosystem.

FTD monetizes the platform through multiple recurring and transactional revenue streams: tiered annual membership subscriptions (Standard at £350+vat, Platinum at £2,500), event exhibition fees from Football & Rugby Business Networking Events held at stadium venues, bespoke email marketing campaigns targeting club decision-makers, print advertising in the annual directory, and physical book sales. Go-to-market is hybrid, combining self-serve online listings, direct sales of membership packages and email campaigns, and event-driven engagement at UK football venues. The operating team is small (1-10 employees), led by Managing Director John Booth (full owner since 2024) and Marketing Executive Joe Calvey.

The business model is a classic two-sided marketplace with strong domain specialization but limited scale: a long-tail supplier base pays recurring fees for visibility, while clubs consume the directory as a free reference resource. The underlying technology stack is a web-based B2B directory platform with email marketing infrastructure, an event management system, and digital/print publication capabilities, supported by a core web design partnership with Brick Technology Ltd. There is no disclosed AI/ML capability, no external funding, and no public financial reporting.

Name

Football Trade Directory

Legal name

Sportsglobal (UK) Ltd

Website

https://footballtradedirectory.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Football Trade Directory is a UK-based B2B directory and events platform founded in 2007 that connects football and rugby clubs with over 2,000 vetted suppliers across 180+ categories via an online directory, annual printed publication, membership subscriptions, and stadium-based networking events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership Subscriptions: Annual membership packages providing enhanced directory listings, preferred supplier status, social media exposure, and discounts on events and advertising
2. Event Exhibition Fees: Revenue from suppliers paying to exhibit at Football & Rugby Business Networking Events
3. Directory Sales: Sale of printed Football & Rugby Trade Directory books at £20 with free postage
4. Print Advertising: Advertising space in printed directory starting from £250 for quarter page
5. Email Marketing Services: Bespoke email campaigns to football club contacts with content creation, design support, and performance reporting

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Football Trade Directory operates an online and printed B2B supplier directory connecting football and rugby clubs with verified suppliers across 180+ service categories. Suppliers pay for tiered memberships, listings, print advertising, and email marketing campaigns, while clubs use the directory and attend networking events hosted at stadium venues to source products and services from Premier League to grassroots level.

Product overview

Football Trade Directory is a B2B supplier directory platform operating across both digital and print channels. The core offering comprises the online FTD website directory (featuring searchable A-Z supplier listings across 180+ categories) and the annual printed Football & Rugby Trade Directory (18th volume in 2025, 132 pages, 2,000+ listings). Supplementary services include email marketing campaigns targeting football club decision-makers, tiered membership packages (Standard at £350/year and Platinum at £2,500/year offering enhanced listings, event access, and advertising), and live networking events at stadium venues.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Football Trade Directory Website Online B2B directory platform connecting football clubs with suppliers across 180+ service categories, from Premier League to grassroots level. Features searchable A-Z supplier listings, company profiles, news feed, and event listings for clubs and suppliers.
• Football & Rugby Trade Directory (Printed) Annual printed directory (132 pages, 18th year in 2025) distributed free into football clubs from Premier League to Grass Roots, listing over 2,000 companies across 180 categories including kit suppliers, insurance, pitch maintenance, and catering. Sold directly to other buyers at GBP 20 with free postage.
• Email Marketing Service

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 2,000 businesses listed in the directory
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Link Stadium Seating / Metro MerchandiseminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 September 2026Exhibitor at Huddersfield networking event. Trading over 25 years specializing in promotional merchandise and branded clothing.
• Langley Compass GroupminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 September 2026Exhibitor at Huddersfield networking event. Providers of cutting-edge technology for hospitality and retail businesses.
• CistermiserminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 September 2026Exhibitor at Huddersfield event. Smart water management solutions for football and rugby venues.
• Surridge SportminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 September 2026Exhibitor at Huddersfield event. UK's Number 1 Football & Rugby teamwear provider. Established in 1867.
• Pioneer GroupminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 September 2026Exhibitor at Huddersfield event. Multi-service provider for Audio Visual, Network infrastructure and Electrical Contracting.
• Carat ShopminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 September 2026Exhibitor at Huddersfield event. 20 years crafting bespoke and licensed gifts, jewellery, and accessories for football clubs.
• Bluecube SeatingminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 September 2026Exhibitor at Huddersfield event. Internationally recognized market leader in public sector seating.
• IAEminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 September 2026Exhibitor at Huddersfield event. Leading manufacturer and supplier of perimeter solutions, sports and play equipment.
• Kleen-TexminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 September 2026Exhibitor at Huddersfield event. Team logo mat manufacturer and sporting venue supplier.
• Linton StadiaminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 September 2026Exhibitor at Huddersfield event. Manufacturer of Modular Spectator Stands from 50 seater to 1000+ seater stands.
• Onside Travel ManagementminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 September 2026Exhibitor at Huddersfield event. Over 50 years experience in corporate and sports travel management with 24/7 support.
• Brick Technology LtdcoreTechnology or IntegrationWeb design partner responsible for building and maintaining the Football Trade Directory website. Located in Blackburn Lancashire with offices in Manchester and London Ontario, Canada.
• TixrminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent sponsor for Football & Rugby Business Networking Events. Ticketing platform provider.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Yell (Yell.com): General-purpose UK B2B directory. A broad incumbent offering overlapping directory functionality to UK businesses, but without FTD's sports-specific vertical specialization.

Direct peers

• SportsPro Media: B2B media and events business covering the global sports industry. Comparable to FTD as a media-led platform connecting sports industry suppliers, rights holders, and decision-makers across multiple channels.
• Leaders in Sport: Sports business networking and events platform connecting industry executives. Directly comparable to FTD's networking events and B2B community-building function within the sports industry.
• The Stadium Business: B2B media and events business focused on stadium and venue operations, connecting suppliers with venue operators. Directly comparable to FTD's supplier discovery function in the stadium/venue vertical.
• World Football Summit: Football industry events and media platform connecting clubs, suppliers, and technology providers. Closely comparable to FTD's football-specific B2B events and directory model.
• Sports Industry Group: UK-based sports business community, awards, and events platform connecting industry professionals. Comparable to FTD's UK sports B2B networking and community-building role.

Emerging players

• GlobalSportsJobs: Sports industry recruitment and jobs platform. Tangentially comparable as a vertical B2B platform serving sports employers and professionals, though focused on recruitment rather than supplier sourcing.
• SportTechie: B2B media platform covering sports technology and innovation, connecting vendors with leagues, teams, and venues. Comparable as a vertical B2B content/community platform in sports but focused on technology.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/football_trade
• Facebookfacebook.com/SportsglobalUK

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Football Trade Directory