Extending Football Training Hours at Barrowby FC with Sports-LITE Portable Floodlights
Barrowby FC has experienced significant growth in recent years, with the number of young players increasing from approximately 150 to more than 320. Despite having substantial playing facilities, the club was finding it increasingly difficult to accommodate everyone and fit in enough training sessions, particularly when most training took place on Saturdays.
Moving more sessions to weekday evenings offered a practical solution, but the lack of daylight through autumn and winter meant that training time was limited from the end of September until March/April.
The club considered hiring local leisure centre and 3G facilities, but availability and cost were barriers. Instead, it wanted to make better use of its own grounds, providing more opportunities for teams to train without relying on external facilities.
After researching portable floodlighting options and arranging a demonstration with Ritelite, Barrowby FC invested in 16 Sports-LITE portable rechargeable floodlights in February 2025, with support from a Football Foundation grant.
MORE TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE WEEK
The Sports-LITE floodlights allow Barrowby FC to make use of its existing pitches and training areas after dark, spreading sessions across the week rather than concentrating so many teams into the same Saturday period.
When the lights were first introduced, the club had teams ranging from under-6s to under-18s, alongside growing girls’ football and pan-disability provision. Extending the available training hours was an important part of supporting that growth.
In a follow-up in February 2026, Steve Moore, Vice Chair of Barrowby FC, confirmed that the lights were being used every night of the week, supporting training for age groups from under-8s through to the club’s veterans’ team.
MAKING BETTER USE OF EXISTING CLUB FACILITIES
Being able to hold more sessions during the week has also helped the club address another challenge: the pressure created by large numbers of players and families arriving at the same time on Saturdays. Spreading training across different evenings gives teams more flexibility and helps reduce pressure on the club’s car park and surrounding village.
The portable lights can be set up where training is taking place, without the club having to install permanent floodlighting. They are stored and charged on site ready for use every evening or as often as they are needed.
The Football Foundation grant made the purchase more accessible. Steve also highlighted the importance of planning practical details such as the number of lights required, the areas to be illuminated, storage and charging arrangements when applying for funding to make the grant process as straightforward as possible.
WHAT THE CLUB SAYS
“We continue to use the lights every night of the week, allowing age groups from U8s to our Vets team to train in the evenings. They are very easy to use, charge quickly and provide plenty of light. There is a different vibe under the lights that the players really enjoy!”
Steve Moore, Vice Chair, Barrowby FC | February 2026
