Central to our ethos is that football should be accessible to everyone, regardless of financial background.
All sponsorship income raised by LFS is directed into our bursary fund, which subsidises training and playing costs for children and families who would otherwise be unable to access structured football.
For many years, our Parents and Carers community has played an important role in supporting this fund through fundraising events and helping ensure funds go to where they’re most needed.
Since our foundation, over £60,000 has been distributed through the LFS bursary fund, with close to £20,000 now allocated annually. We currently support over 100 children per term, and demand for bursary support continues to increase.
To help meet this growing need, families and supporters can now make a simple monthly or one-off donation directly to the bursary fund.
In 2026, the London Football School CIO became a registered charity, providing greater transparency and reassurance for everyone who chooses to support our bursary programme.
Generated in socio-economic value
London Football School generates an estimated £1.7 million in socio-economic value each year. This includes £393,000 generated through the participation of 463 youth players, £132,000 through 45 adult players and £1.2 million through the contribution of our 127-strong workforce.
Across the club, we provide 64,000 hours of social interaction and reach 4,416 people through three community programmes. Through improved physical and mental wellbeing, healthcare savings, paid employment, volunteering and more than £30,000 allocated to bursaries, our impact extends far beyond the pitch, creating lasting value for our players, workforce and wider community.
Players signed at professional academies
including Arsenal, Tottenham, Brentford, West Ham, Watford, QPR, Millwall, Luton, Leyton Orient, Oxford United, Cambridge and Colchester.
Registered girls playing
With fourteen girls teams ranging from U7 – U14, plus a Women’s team competing in the GLWFL, we have the highest number of registered female players of any grassroots club in London.
Players per week
Every week well over 1,000 young people participate in our programmes across North,
East and West London. Through football we aim to improve health, wellbeing, confidence,
education and community cohesion, whilst ensuring that financial circumstances, gender
or sporting ability are never a barrier to participation.
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The Joe Saumarez Smith Memorial Match
Joe was a founding member of the LFS Dads’ Sunday football team. A marauding wing back, Joe embodied the LFS ethos that football is for everyone.
The annual memorial match has been created in his memory to enable others to enjoy the competition and forge the friendships which LFS promotes.
LFS AnniBursary Quiz Night 🧠
In May 2026, we celebrated our 10 Year AnniBursary event, bringing together players, parents, coaches, staff, supporters and friends of the club to mark a decade of London Football School.
The evening featured an interactive quiz, live auction, raffle, comedy and magic, with everyone coming together to celebrate the people and community that have helped shape LFS over the last 10 years.
We were also delighted to raise around £4,000 for the newly registered LFS bursary charity, helping ensure that children who may otherwise be unable to afford football can continue to access our programme. It was a memorable evening and a fantastic way to celebrate the club’s past while looking ahead to an exciting future.
LFS Film Night 🍿🎬
In May 2024, we hosted a private screening of the amazing documentary film ‘Next Goal Wins’ with thanks to producer & LFS Parent, Mike Brett & the fantastic Pleasance Theatre, Islington.
It was a real pleasure to have Eli Mengem from Copa 90 join us to ask the questions with Eden Lentin, an LFS Player who both jointly lead the Q+A absolutely brilliantly.
The raffle prizes were donated from Misha Sher (LFS Parent and player representative), our sponsors Meat NW5, the National Hemp Service, and the Pleasance Theatre. Thank you all so much!
LFS Bike Ride 🚴
In May 2023, to celebrate that we’d been recognised by the Premier League as a grassroots club they’re supporting, we cycled to all the London Premier League & Championship clubs by bicycle in one day.
9 London stadiums visited, 82km cycled, 24 riders and many more people involved making it a memorable event for an excellent cause.
Thank you so much to everybody who sponsored the bike ride.
Tottenham Hotspur → West Ham United → Millwall → Crystal Palace → Fulham → Chelsea → Brentford → Queens Park Rangers → Arsenal