AFC Stoneham
AFC Stoneham is a volunteer-run community grassroots football club in Eastleigh, Hampshire, operating 157 teams and serving 1,700+ registered players across all age groups from age 4 to senior adult, supported by 500 volunteer coaches and 120+ local business sponsors at its own £10M Stoneham Lane Football Complex.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1919
- HeadquartersEastleigh, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What AFC Stoneham does
AFC Stoneham is a volunteer-run community grassroots football club headquartered at the purpose-built £10M Stoneham Lane Football Complex in Eastleigh, Hampshire. Founded in 1919 as Royal Engineers FC (later Ordnance Survey) and reconstituted in its current form through the 2007 merger with junior club Granley Rovers, the club operates 157 teams spanning ages 4 through senior adult, including a women's first team competing at Step 4/5 of the English football pyramid from 2026/27. It serves 1,700+ registered players supported by 500 volunteer managers and coaches, and is recognised by The FA as the second-largest grassroots community club in England, with the largest girls football section of any single grassroots club in the country (34 teams).
The club's commercial model is a hybrid of subscription membership, local sponsorship, tournament hosting, and merchandise sales. Players pay annual fees (with signing-on fee included), processed through the Teamfeepay platform with instalment options. Sponsorship income is drawn from 120+ local businesses, with Dolphin Motorhomes and Nuffield Health as named main sponsors. The annual Summer Tournament at Stoneham Lane attracts 180+ teams and 5,000+ visitors, generating tournament and spectator income, while a Kitlocker-powered Nike Partner Club online store provides merchandise revenue under a three-year partnership signed in July 2025.
The club's competitive position rests on community integration, institutional partnerships, and physical infrastructure rather than technology. Strategic partnerships with Nike (July 2025), Southampton FC (January 2026), and the FA underpin branding, kit supply, and player development pathways; 3-star FA Club Accreditation (held annually since 2001) and Community Champion recognition (Buckingham Palace and 10 Downing Street, 2024) provide regulatory and reputational standing. The club holds no proprietary technology, no patents or trademarks of note, and operates without external private-equity or venture-capital ownership. Reported impact metrics include a £6.5M annual social value contribution (2025 Social Value Impact Report) and an emerging international footprint via AFC Stoneham Kenya (launched 2025).
AFC Stoneham firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- AFC Stoneham
- Legal name
- AFC Stoneham
- Website
- https://afcstoneham.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1919
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- AFC Stoneham is a volunteer-run community grassroots football club in Eastleigh, Hampshire, operating 157 teams and serving 1,700+ registered players across all age groups from age 4 to senior adult, supported by 500 volunteer coaches and 120+ local business sponsors at its own £10M Stoneham Lane Football Complex.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
AFC Stoneham industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Community Grassroots Football Club
- NAICS
- Sports Teams and Clubs (711211), Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Local Amateur Clubs & Community Sports Organizations (MPAKACAE)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Youth & Scholastic Sports Organizations (K–12, AAU, Club Leagues) (MPAKACAF)
Keywords
Where AFC Stoneham is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Eastleigh
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
AFC Stoneham business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Membership and registration fees: Annual subscription fees collected from players, with signing-on fees included. Payment processed through Teamfeepay platform with options for full payment or 6-month direct debit instalments from September to February.
- Sponsorship: Club enjoys support from over 120 local business sponsors. Sponsors provide kit sponsorship, team sponsorship, and financial support. Main club sponsors are Dolphin Motorhomes and Nuffield Health.
- Tournament entry fees: Summer tournament entry fees charged to participating teams. Early bird pricing available before March 15th. Tournament entrance fee of £3 on the day for spectators.
- Merchandise and kit sales: Club store selling Nike branded merchandise, training kits, and club apparel through Kitlocker partnership.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Annual player membership with flexible payment options |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
AFC Stoneham product offering
Product offeringCore offering
AFC Stoneham is a community grassroots football club operating 157 teams across men's, women's, and youth categories, providing structured football participation programs from age 4 through senior adult levels. The club runs leagues, training, development pathways, an annual tournament, and a Nike-branded merchandise store, all centered on its own Stoneham Lane Football Complex facility in Eastleigh, Hampshire.
Product overview
AFC Stoneham is a community grassroots football club offering a comprehensive portfolio of football programs and services. The club operates as a single unified offering centered on football participation rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. The core service is football team programs across 157 teams spanning men's, women's, and youth categories (ages 4+), supported by the Stoneham Lane Football Complex venue. Ancillary services include the Nike Partner Club online store (retail), the annual Summer Tournament (events), FA Wildcats Centre for Girls (development), Development Centre (player pathway), and Saturday Morning Fun Club (community outreach). The three-year Nike/Kitlocker partnership provides exclusive branded merchandise access.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Football Teams and Programs Structured football programs spanning 157 teams across men's, women's, and youth categories from age 4 through senior adult levels, providing a complete player pathway from junior to adult football for the Hampshire community.
- Stoneham Lane Football Complex Purpose-built £10M football facility in Eastleigh, Hampshire serving as home ground for all matches, training sessions, and the annual summer tournament, with access controlled via Hampshire FA QR codes.
- Summer Tournament
Quantifiable outcome
- 157 teams, 1700+ players, 500 volunteers - second largest grassroots club in England
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use AFC Stoneham
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
AFC Stoneham technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AFC Stoneham partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.
- Southampton FCflagshipFirst-of-its-kind three-year Affiliate Grassroots Partnership. Brings benefits to all 1700+ players and 500 volunteer managers/coaches. Includes CPD courses at St Mary's Stadium, training sessions at Marchwood, and aligned ethos for community football development.
- Abby's Heroescore18-month partnership with children's cancer charity supported by law firm Womble Bond Dickinson. Includes fundraising activities, team sponsorships (4-5 younger teams wearing Abby's Heroes kit), and awareness raising at club events including summer tournament.
- Brighton and Hove AlbionminorAcademy Girls teams hosted Premier League Brighton and Hove Albion girls teams for friendly matches. Building stronger links with academies for development opportunities.
- Nike / KitlockerflagshipThree-year strategic partnership making AFC Stoneham a Nike Partner Club supported by The FA and Kitlocker. As the South of England's biggest Nike Partner Club, benefits include elite-level Nike teamwear, exclusive NPC events, access to Nike's football resources, and support for the FA's Powerhouse Project for female coach development.
- Nuffield Health Wessex HospitalcoreMain club sponsor. Nuffield Health is the UK's leading not-for-profit healthcare organisation with 31 hospitals and 112 fitness clubs. Wessex Hospital in Hampshire provides healthcare services to the community.
- Dolphin MotorhomescoreMain club sponsor. Local business providing sponsorship support to the club.
- TeamfeepaycoreDigital payment platform partnered with in 2025 for processing annual fees, signing-on fees, and registrations. Provides improved efficiencies in club administration and registration processes.
- FC VlaardingenminorDutch football club near Rotterdam. AFC Stoneham undertakes annual trip to their tournament in April/May for U11, U13, and U15 teams, competing with clubs from 5-6 countries.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
AFC Stoneham competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Bury AFC: Community-owned phoenix football club competing in the lower tiers of the English pyramid, comparable to AFC Stoneham in its volunteer-driven ethos and emphasis on youth and community engagement.
- Lewes FC: Community-owned football club with strong women's and men's sections, similarly competing in the lower tiers of the English football pyramid and prioritising grassroots participation over commercial scale.
- FC United of Manchester: Supporter-owned community football club with deep volunteer infrastructure and a focus on accessible, affordable football, comparable in its community-led operating model and reliance on member subscriptions.
- Corinthian-Casuals FC: Historic community-owned non-league football club playing in the Isthmian League, comparable to AFC Stoneham as a grassroots-focused club with strong volunteer culture and youth pathways into senior football.
- Warrington Town FC: Northern Premier League club with an extensive community and youth programme, comparable as a non-league club with strong volunteer base and local sponsorship model moving up the pyramid.
- Hendon FC: Long-established North London amateur and semi-professional football club with a large youth section and Step 3/4 league pedigree, comparable in scale and grassroots-to-senior pathway focus.
- Chester FC: Community-owned National League System club with strong volunteer governance and a large youth setup, comparable to AFC Stoneham's pathway-from-juniors-to-adult structure and reliance on local sponsorship.
- Dulwich Hamlet FC: Community-owned Isthmian League club with strong volunteer base and grassroots identity, comparable to AFC Stoneham's Step 3/4 non-league positioning and community ethos.
Emerging players
- AFC Wimbledon: Supporter-owned club that climbed from the Combined Counties League to the EFL, relevant as a comparable community-led football model that has scaled successfully up the pyramid.
Broad incumbents
- Southampton FC (Community / Saints Foundation): Professional Premier League/EFL club with a formal Affiliate Grassroots Partnership with AFC Stoneham; relevant as a strategic partner and broader incumbent shaping the regional grassroots ecosystem.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
AFC Stoneham social profiles
Digital presenceAFC Stoneham financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
AFC Stoneham leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
AFC Stoneham funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
AFC Stoneham M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about AFC Stoneham
What does AFC Stoneham do?
AFC Stoneham is a community grassroots football club operating 157 teams across men's, women's, and youth categories, providing structured football participation programs from age 4 through senior adult levels. The club runs leagues, training, development pathways, an annual tournament, and a Nike-branded merchandise store, all centered on its own Stoneham Lane Football Complex facility in Eastleigh, Hampshire.
Is AFC Stoneham a public or private company?
AFC Stoneham is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was AFC Stoneham founded?
AFC Stoneham was founded in 1919. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is AFC Stoneham based?
AFC Stoneham is headquartered in Eastleigh, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does AFC Stoneham make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Membership and registration fees are the primary driver. The others are sponsorship, tournament entry fees and merchandise and kit sales.
Who are AFC Stoneham's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Bury AFC, Lewes FC, FC United of Manchester, Corinthian-Casuals FC, Warrington Town FC, Hendon FC, Chester FC and Dulwich Hamlet FC. AFC Wimbledon is listed as an emerging player. Southampton FC (Community / Saints Foundation) is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does AFC Stoneham have an API?
No public API is recorded for AFC Stoneham.
What industry is AFC Stoneham in?
AFC Stoneham's product category is Community Grassroots Football Club. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAKACAE, Local Amateur Clubs & Community Sports Organizations, with a secondary code of MPAKACAF, Youth & Scholastic Sports Organizations (K–12, AAU, Club Leagues). Its NAICS code is 711211 and its SIC code is 7997.