Footballco and Common Goal Unite for “GOAL Projects” Charitable Initiative to Support Grassroots Football

Footballco’s global football media brand, GOAL, and Common Goal, a global collective uniting the football for good community to drive social change, have joined forces for GOAL Projects, a campaign that pairs iconic musicians with hometown football teams to generate vital funds and visibility for grassroots football through limited-edition football shirts and merchandise drops.

GOAL Projects kicked off in September with Grammy-winning artist Anderson .Paak and continues with today’s release by the American folk-rock band the Lumineers.

The project sees a portion of the proceeds from the collaborations donated to grassroots teams supported by the artists. The Anderson .Paak collection was created to support Oxnard Eagles, a young girls’ football team in Paak’s hometown of Oxnard, California.

The Lumineers collection, released today, supports Aurora West girls’ football team — a team of refugees from thirteen different countries who are building new lives in Colorado, the band’s adopted home after moving from New Jersey shortly after forming.

Common Goal’s role in the project leverages their expertise in utilising the power of football to enhance the lives of those who play it. The organisation leads the sourcing of youth teams or football organisations in the artists’ hometown and ensuring they are diverse and inclusive and reflect the artists' identities, as well as having a need for the support of the project.

Common Goal is also responsible for the dispersal of charitable funds to those involved, so they can support activities such as covering playing fees, buying equipment, travel and other expenses that can often price young people out of the sport.

All teams involved are also gifted a full run of kits for their team and get to meet the artists behind their designs, which are created in tandem with the GOAL Projects team.

Jake Cohen, head of GOAL Projects for Footballco said: “Common Goal is known across the world for the work they do to unite the global football community to tackle the greatest social challenges of our time. Through working with Common Goal we know that the artists we’re working with aren’t just creating amazing kits and merch, but they’re also supporting teams that need it the most.

“While you only need a ball to play football, to take your love for the game to the next level can often bring with it, especially in the US, extra costs. We hope through Goal Projects and our work with Common Goal that we can help to bring down some of those barriers.”

“Creativity and collaboration are at the heart of every song and every football match. We are incredibly excited to be a part of this unique collaboration with GOAL, connecting the two powerful forces of football and music, and translating these into tangible opportunities for youth football,” said Mary Connor, Executive Director of Common Goal USA.