Gary Neville: How small businesses help power the English Football League
Football runs on more than just passion. It relies on planning, people, and small businesses. Watch Gary Neville’s take on the game behind the game and explore why Sage and EFL make the perfect partnership.
Your football club becomes the beating heart of your town or city—where communities come together, stories are passed down through generations, and buzz begins long before the stadium doors open.
That’s why Sage is the official accounting software partner of the English Football League (EFL), a competition built on the spirit of local communities—powered by the small businesses, volunteers, and everyday legends who make football what it is.
Matchday starts days or weeks earlier, in the bakery, the barbershop, the ticket office, or the pub.
Gary Neville: From the pitch to the business of football
As someone who’s seen the whole game through, from pitch to boardroom, former England and Manchester United defender, Gary Neville, knows how vital small businesses are to football culture and community life.
Now successful businessman and EFL club co-owner, in the video above, he shares what football looks like behind the scenes and tells us why the business side of football matters more than ever—and what we can all learn from it.
Exploring the game beyond the game
From matchday pies to payroll, ticketing to training schedules, football clubs are businesses too.
And so much of what makes football great is powered by everyday people doing great work behind the scenes, often without the spotlight.
“Matchdays aren’t just about football—they keep local shops and communities alive.”
Gary Neville
It’s something Gary saw from a young age.
“Growing up and watching Bury with my mum and dad… the local sweet shop, the fish and chip shop… all these small businesses that thrive around a match day, that communities rely upon to keep them going.”
He also sees how the game—and the business world—are rapidly changing.
“Football’s caught up fast. Now, every club is using data and systems to get ahead. If you resist technology, you risk being left behind.”
The badge might be worn on the pitch, but it’s backed by the businesses off it.
Why Sage? Why football?
With nearly half of all EFL clubs already using Sage, it’s proud to power the people behind the pros.
Sage helps small and medium businesses, like football clubs or local matchday meeting points, manage the numbers, admin, and time-consuming jobs that keep things running smoothly—from payroll and invoicing to accounting and forecasting.
This includes thousands of local shops, cafés, accountants, and entrepreneurs—the same people powering football from the grassroots up.
So, when you look at the EFL—72 clubs, millions of fans—it’s more than sport. It’s about the communities and businesses that have supported clubs for generations.
The same kinds of people Sage has championed for over 40 years.
“Football clubs and small businesses are embedded together. That’s why the Sage and EFL partnership makes sense.”
Gary Neville
Game on
With more than 43 years of local business experience, Sage knows this is just the beginning of the journey with the EFL—and we can’t wait to share more stories of the people who power the game.
- Celebrate your community
- Back your club
- Back the businesses behind the badge
Tell us your EFL Club and you could win Sage Member of the Match
To celebrate our partnership with the EFL, we’re offering our customers the chance to win two match tickets for their chosen EFL Club and a signed team shirt with Sage Member of the Match*!
Every month from January to April, we’ll draw winners for:
- January: Sky Bet Championship Tickets
- February: Carabao Cup Final Tickets
- March: Sky Bet League One Tickets
- April: Sky Bet League Two Tickets
The winner will receive two general admission tickets to attend a match for their chosen club in that month’s league. The winner will also receive a signed shirt from the same EFL club!
There is even the chance to get your hands on Carabao Cup Final tickets.
Register your details, including the team you support and your matchday ritual.
*Prizes are subject to club agreement, eligibility, and availability. Tickets are for home supporters only and cannot be sold or transferred. Winners and guests must comply with all club, EFL, and stadium regulations. Some exclusions apply; see full T&Cs for details.
