Croydon FC – realising their ambitions using Abler platform
Croydon FC are an ambitious community focussed club based in South London with a senior men’s team play in Southern Counties East Football League and a women’s team which was reformed in 2020 and are currently members of the Greater London Women League. There is also a burgeoning Youth Section with teams playing in the Tandridge League.
When a new committee, headed by Gavin English, took over running of the club in 2021, they created an ambitious vision to reinvigorate the club and, importantly, to create play a positive and meaningful role in the community.
Previous Systems
Like many other grass root teams, the club had relied on social media and WhatsApp to organise teams, training and match days which had hindered development of the club and limited expansion of the teams. Organising subs and fees was a laborious task, which resulted in some going unpaid.
One of the first points of business for English and his team was to improve administration of the club. The decision was taken in 2021 to install the Abler system across all levels of the club.
Weekly training across all age groups and weekend games were arranged through the Abler system using the organiser function of the platform. Subscriptions and membership fees were organised through payment platform and teams were organised across leagues and multiple venues and age groups. For the first time, the club held pre-season trials which were also organised through Abler booking system
The Results
Here are key metrics showcasing the significant impact Abler has had on their operations:
- Coaches saved over 380 hours annually on admin tasks
- Admins saved over 1100 hours annually on repetitive tasks
- Total economic value amounted to £30,000 annually
The Abler system allowed club to expand without additional investment in administration. With overall administration rates reduced, the club created a new u23 squad and three new teams in the youth section for 23/24 season.
Staff retention rates improved as coaches felt more motivated, allowing them to spend more time with players, planning their sessions and less time dealing with erroneous administrative tasks and the inevitable last minute calls ahead of matches.
Fee collection increased and late payments very heavily reduced. This now allows Croydon to offer reduced rates for players affected by the cost of living crisis.
Communication between players, parents and coaches has improved hugely. Parents and players know where to be and when. Punctuality improved across all teams.
As a result additional teams have been created for the 24/25 season with new U16 and U18’s squads and the club have long-terms plans to develop squads from under 10’s through to under 18’s as well as developing enhanced opportunities for female players across all age groups working with the Abler system.
Alongside Abler, Croydon and now realising their ambitions, offering their communities the chance to play and engage with a modern, forward thinking and well organised club.
About Abler:
Abler provides a comprehensive software suite that includes a robust booking platform, event management tools, and financial administration capabilities. Trusted by sports organisations across Europe, Abler empowers coaches, clubs, players, and parents through innovative technology that fosters inclusivity, character-building, and personal growth.
