Crusaders FC & Sporting FC: Driving Change Through Lift Sharing

Crusaders FC and Sporting FC have shown how a simple idea like lift sharing, can reduce environmental impact while also strengthening connections across grassroots football communities.

Coaches at both clubs played a pivotal role in making lift sharing work. By connecting parents who live near each other, setting up dedicated WhatsApp groups, and organising social opportunities, they made it easier for families to coordinate travel. Some coaches even led by example, offering lifts themselves and encouraging parents to travel together, helping to overcome concerns around convenience and being pitch side.

The impact has gone beyond reducing car journeys and lowering emissions. Lift sharing has improved punctuality, created opportunities for team bonding, and strengthened relationships between players, parents and coaches.

“Besides the obvious environmental benefits, when players and parents share lifts, they’re more likely to arrive on time and it creates a great opportunity for team bonding. I’m all for it.”

Benefits for Coaches

For coaches, many of whom are also parents, time management is critical. At Sporting FC, coaches found simple adjustments made a difference, such as setting slightly earlier meeting times to account for any delays. More importantly, lift sharing created valuable opportunities to connect with families outside of training sessions.

“Lift sharing was a joy. I got to learn more about the children’s ambitions and how they see their future in football.” — Sean, Coach at Sporting FC

Sporting FC: A Simple Trial, Lasting Change

At Sporting FC, three coaches piloted a lift sharing trial towards the end of the season. Parents were encouraged to coordinate locally, with small groups travelling together to training.

One parent, initially worried that lift sharing would add time to an already busy after-school routine. However, she found the opposite - coordinating with nearby families made pick-ups quick and efficient, and a simple three-week rota helped distribute responsibility fairly. Each journey included multiple children and at least one other parent, creating a shared and supportive experience.

Following the trial, families chose to continue the rota due to the clear benefits:

• Greater flexibility for parents

• Reduced travel costs

• Less pressure on individual families.

“Put up a map in the clubhouse so parents can see who lives near each other—more people will get involved.”

Crusaders FC: Safer, Smarter Travel

At Crusaders FC in Bournville, where the club supports 21 teams across youth and adult football, lift sharing also addressed wider challenges.

Busy training evenings had led to congestion and safety concerns, with cars parked on double yellow lines reducing visibility for children. By encouraging lift sharing, the club was able to reduce traffic while improving safety around the site.

The club actively supported the initiative by:

• Identifying parents who could travel together

• Sharing stories and successes on social media

• Hosting social events to help families connect.

  
  

Three youth teams and the women’s team took part, with the latter already demonstrating how effective lift sharing could be.

The Impact

Across just four teams, lift sharing saved an estimated 687 miles per season, equating to around £200 in travel costs - as well as a meaningful reduction in carbon emissions.