Decline in membership. Decline in sponsorship. Lack of income. Amateur clubs are suffering badly from the coronavirus crisis - only a few rays of hope

COLOGNE - Amateur football has been at a standstill for months. The clubs are suffering from the coronavirus-related ban on operations. The voting app has analysed exactly how the existentially important basis of German football is being affected by the consequences of the pandemic and what positive effects can be observed. FanQ with the support of Hyundai Motor Germany in a representative study in which 1896 football fans were surveyed.

The results show that a significant majority of 83.9% of respondents rate the impact of the Covid-19 crisis as negative to very negative. The most frequently cited negative impact is the 'reduction in socialising' at 45.1%. According to fans, many clubs have also experienced a decline in sponsors and volunteer work. Despite this, positive effects are also cited, such as greater member cohesion (21.4%) and improvements to the digital infrastructure (14.5%). The fans surveyed explained that the financial consequences of the pandemic require more private fundraising campaigns and support from local authorities and the state.

For 83.9% of respondents, the impact on amateur clubs is negative. 12.7% rate the effects of the crisis as neutral and only 2.5% as positive. The main negative effects are the 'reduction in sociability' (45.1%) and the 'decline in spectators' (31.2%) as direct consequences of the coronavirus measures. These are followed by the 'decrease in sponsors' (21.1%), the 'increased administrative effort' (20.9%), the 'decrease in volunteer work' (19.8%) and the 'decrease in members' (15.4%).

This is at least partially offset by positive effects such as the 'strengthening of member cohesion' (21.4%), an 'improvement in the digital infrastructure' (14.5%) and, in some cases, 'higher training participation' (8.5%). The survey also revealed positive impulses that the amateur club provides for its members. Here too, 'cohesion' is the most strongly represented at 33.4%. This is followed by 'distraction' (21.3%), 'hope' (20.4%) and 'fitness' (18.8%). Somewhat behind is 'Experience nature' with 6.5%.

Most solidarity support (26.4%) is currently provided in the form of voluntary work, but many organisations (24.5%) need more voluntary work. 14.4% of the current help is in the form of fundraising campaigns, but at 31.6%, far more fundraising campaigns would be desirable.

At 22.3%, support from sponsors is the most common. However, 22.7% of respondents call for even more help from sponsors. There is also help from the municipality or the state (14.6%). However, more support is still needed here (18.3%).

The aforementioned cohesion in the amateur club is also reflected in the fans' own willingness. According to the study, 39.2% of those surveyed would be willing to volunteer to support their own club, 17.2% would donate money and a further 14.0% would organise fundraising campaigns.

Due to the pandemic, amateur clubs also had to step up their digitalisation efforts. Looking at the results for the use of digital services offered by their own club (40.6% increased; 44.3% remained the same; 15.1% decreased) and in amateur football in general (33.7% increased; 40.1% remained the same; 26.2% decreased), it is clear that the respondents use digital services much more frequently.

"The results show very clearly that amateur clubs are not only important for football, but also for the cohesion of our society," says FanQ founder Joachim Lammert. "That's why it's important not to neglect or even forget the grassroots. While professional football continues to play happily and cheerfully despite the pandemic, amateur football is at a standstill. With our study, we want to give a voice to the millions of people who are involved and who are close to it and show the enormous problems and challenges facing the football grassroots."!

"Hyundai Motor Germany, together with its retail partners, continues to support amateur football even in these difficult times. It is important for us to know the needs of the clubs in order to develop and implement suitable measures. The results of this study give us good pointers and suggestions," says Christina Herzog, Director of Marketing & Press, Hyundai Motor Germany, explaining the commitment.

If you have any editorial queries about the survey results, please contact us.

FanQ founder

Dr Joachim Lammert
joachim.lammert@fanq-app.com

Head of Research

Lukas Kopfer
lukas.kopfer@fanq-app.com