Where can I play football in London?
There are lots of places to play football in London. Read this guide to find out the best ways and places to do it.
Casual Football London
There are lots of opportunities to play casual football in London. Sites like Footy Addicts, FC Urban and Terrible Football allow people to sign up for games of different sizes and play hour-long games with other individuals. Games can cost £5-£10 and can be booked a few days before, or on the day if there is availability.
5-a-side Football London
5-a-side football on astro turf or similar surfaces is an up-and-coming alternative to 11-a-side games. With smaller goals and game-specific rules, 5-a-side football allows players to develop a different skillset and offer more accessible playing opportunities.
5-a-side Football Pitches London
There are numerous operators who offer 5-a-side pitches in London. Powerleague has around 20 locations in and around London, primarily based in North London. Goals has nearly 15 covering other London suburbs. Centres generally offer pitches accommodating between 5 and 9 players per side. These can be booked for around £60-£100, depending on the time and whether it is peak or off-peak.
5-a-side Football Leagues London
Many of these football centres such as Powerleague or Goals in London offer leagues, where teams can enter and compete for a few weeks. Most centres have leagues on multiple days, and offer youth leagues. Games are 25-50 minutes and a referee is present.
Other websites such as 5aside.org and Powerplay Football offer their own leagues which teams can enter all across London
11-a-side Football London
Also known as grassroots football, throughout London there are 11-a-side leagues where games generally take place on a Saturday or Sunday Morning. Like professional football, these games are 90 minutes long and seasons take place from Autumn to Spring. Players and clubs must be FA registered and rules vary from league to league. Games take place on grass or astro turf and there is often roll on roll off substitutes. There will also be a fully qualified referee. 11-a-side games allow you to play football in London regularly and competitively.
Football Clubs in London to Join
To join an 11-a-side football club, you can search for and message a team in your area. England Football offers a directory to search for a local team. It is best to contact teams at the start of the summer as this is when they recruit for the next season.
11-a-side Football Leagues London
If you are looking for a league for your team to join, London FA have a list of certified London leagues. 11aside.org also offer FA affiliated leagues which start at other times of the year.
11-a-side Football London Midweek
There are less opportunities to play midweek 11-a-side football in London. Apps like Footy Addicts allow you to play casual 11-a-side football. There are certain opportunities to enter midweek leagues, such as on londonfootball.uk . Generally, 11-a-side football leagues take place at the weekend.
Football-related Activities in London
There are other football related activities in London that you can participate in. Futsal offers a small-sided indoor alternative, The Walking Football Association is good for those less able to continually run throughout the game, and bubble football and footgolf are fun alternative games to try out.
Walking Football in London
Walking football are games of football where no running or jogging is allowed. It is good for those who are older, or less able to run for a whole game. Although niche, there are walking football opportunities in London. The Walking Football Association website has a list of London Walking football clubs that players can join.
Futsal
What is Futsal?
Futsal is a small-sided indoor version of football. There are boundary lines and the ball is smaller than a regular ball. It is similar to 5-a-side football and promotes ball control and good technical ability.
How Long are Futsal games?
Games are 40 minutes long, consisting of two 20 minute halves. However, the clock stops when the ball goes out of play so the total time a game takes could be longer than this.
Where to Play Futsal in London
The London Football FAwebsite allows you to join a league or play as an individual. This gives players the opportunity to play futsal casually or competitively. Teams can enter the leagues which take places over 3 month periods. Apps like Footy Addicts also offer Futsal games.
Bubble football
What is bubble football?
Bubble football is a football game where all players are wearing inflated zorb balls, and is played recreationally as a fun alternative to football. It is often played at work socials and stag dos.
Where to Play Bubble Football in London
Some Powerleague venues offer bubble football sessions on their pitches. BubbleBoyEvents also run sessions for zorb and bubble football and have a few locations around London.
How much is bubble football
Prices vary but players can expect to pay £25-£55 per player for an hour session.
Footgolf
What is Footgolf?
Footgolf is a mix of football and golf, where players attempt to kick a football into a large golf hole in as few shots as possible. The pitch is smaller than a regular golf green, and there may be 9 or 18 hole per game.
How long does footgolf take?
Games can last from 1-2 hours, although this will take longer if there are more players or you play with more holes.
Where to Play footgolf in London?
Although it is a niche sport, there are some footgolf greens in London. Footgolfwise have two courses in North and West London and Hounslow Golf Park also offers a location.