Kick On with Starling: Free Football Kits for Women’s Teams

Starling Bank has launched Kick On with Starling, a new initiative offering free football kits and coaching support to women’s and girls’ teams across the UK. The campaign has already provided more than 10,000 kits and helped 140 women qualify as coaches. Could your team be next?

Importantly, the initiative is open to new and existing football teams, as well as schools based in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Successful applicants, therefore, can receive Starling-sponsored kits, equipment, coaching course vouchers, and access to Sport Session Planner, a specialised coaching tool.

To apply, teams submit a five-minute online form, requesting a kit, a coaching voucher, or both. The deadline is October 14, 2025, at 11:59 PM. Afterwards, winners will be chosen at random and notified via email. Starling Bank encourages both clubs and schools to apply and take part in the programme.

The campaign follows research from Starling, which shows a shortage of female football coaches in the UK. By surveying over 3,000 players and grassroots coaches, the bank found that 90% of coaches and 85% of female players believe the country needs more female coaches. Additionally, 89% of players want female coaches at their clubs or schools, and 76% said having a female coach encouraged them to join their team.

Kick On with Starling: Free Football Kits for Women’s Teams

Former Lioness Jill Scott MBE, Starling ambassador, said, “Having the right coach is vital for any team. Female coaches especially inspire young girls to stay in the game and dream big. With Kick On, we aim to nurture the next generation of coaches who can lead teams to success on and off the pitch.”

Ellie Cross, Starling’s women’s football advocate, added, “Since launching Kick On in 2023, we’ve highlighted issues like unequal pitch access and the drop in girls’ participation during adolescence. Now we want to help more women take the first step towards coaching and grow football opportunities for girls nationwide.”

Starling Bank, winner of the 2024 Sport Industry Awards for its work in women’s football, aims to support over 300 clubs through Kick On. Teams can apply through the link in Starling Bank’s Instagram bio and join a growing movement to strengthen women’s football across the UK.

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