Page last updated on 16th March 2026

Building your squad can help you save

Whether it’s sharing memories of growing up with the game, catching up over a pint at half-time, or leaning on each other during life’s tough moments, fans are proving that having a “squad” off the pitch can make all the difference.

What's on this page?

Football fans say community is one of the best parts of supporting their club
Watch: Troy Deeney shows how fans are building squads off the pitch
How smart meters are helping fans take control at home
Add a smart meter to your squad

How football fans are building a squad off the pitch

The roar of the crowd. A last-minute winner. That mid-match chat with a stranger who feels like a lifelong mate. For football fans, the match-day experience is about much more than what happens on the pitch.

A recent survey by Smart Energy GB shows that 78% of fans feel a sense of community is a key part of being a supporter, with many forming real, lasting friendships that go far beyond the stadium.

We've teamed up with the EFL and football icon Troy Deeney to surprise three Birmingham City fans with a special visit.

In this heartwarming video, Troy and Taylor Gardner-Hickman hear how the Blues community helped these fans through some of life’s toughest challenges, proving that supporting your team also means supporting each other.

Watch: Troy Deeney helps fans find strength in their squad

video url

: [Three older men, Keith, Phil and Brian, greet each other outside of a football venue while piano music plays over top.]

Text on the screen: As well as their team, many football fans support each other with friendship, advice, or just a chance to chat. Smart Energy GB and the English Football League found out more with a few old friends…and some new friends.

[Troy Deeney, broadcaster and former footballer, and Taylor Gardner-Hickman, a Birmingham City player, walk in to greet the older gentlemen.]

Taylor: Afternoon, gentlemen.

Troy: You all right?

Keith: All right. What are you doing here?

Troy: Right guys, what does football mean to you?

Keith: Brings us all together. It's like a family. You get to know everybody.

Phil: My wife will say to me, ‘why do you want to go down the blues when the game's on the telly?,’ and I'll say ‘it's not the same!’, you know?

Brian: You come down here and I mean like everybody backs everybody else up.

Taylor: It's such a joy to be a part of, and and long may it continue.

[The video cuts to the group of men looking at an exhibit within the football venue.]

Phil: That's my scarf that I donated to—

Taylor: That's been around your neck?

Phil: Oh yes.

Troy: It's not just about the game though, is it? It's like your own squad and you're all here obviously helping each other out.

Keith: We all come from different backgrounds. We support each other. It's all about teamwork, you know. You can't have seven strikers in a football team.

Brian: I can always offload, you know, and have a chat.

Troy: Like what? What is it you get to chat about?

Brian: You know, the football, what's happening in the world, energy costs.

Troy: Now, as we're talking about cost of living, if any of you's got any of these smart meters at home?

Brian: I’ve got a smart meter and you can definitely see the savings that you can make on it.

Keith: It's a way of monitoring what you're spending, isn't it?

Taylor: So, can you see it going up on the smart meter display?

Keith: Yeah. Yeah. We've got it in a prominent position in the living room.

Phil: We all know cost of living is going up and there's a lot of things that are totally out of your control. The smart meter actually does give you some control.

Brian: I can definitely see the benefits of it and I think everybody should get one.

Troy: What does a squad mean to you?

Taylor: I think what we're so good at as a community, fans, players, staff, all together is we embrace the graft. It kind of reminds you what it was like and you know the hardships you have to go through and they help you get out of it ultimately and make you become who you are today.

Taylor: And of course having amazing fans like yourselves reminds us how important a squad really is to have around.

[Text on screen: Get a smart meter. Eligibility may vary. Consumer action required.]

What does football have to do with energy bills?

Just like a football team needs a strong captain and a good game plan, households need tools that help them stay on top of their budgets.

That’s where smart meters come in.

71% of football fans who have a smart meter say it’s helped them manage their money.
9 in 10 smart meter owners across the UK are happy with their device
Smart meters are installed by your energy supplier at no extra cost.

A smart meter can give you a clearer view of how much energy you're using in near-real time, helping you to stay on top of your bills.

Get a smart meter

Add a smart meter to your squad

Whether you’re dealing with rising bills or just looking for more control, a smart meter could help you manage energy costs more confidently.

If you're struggling, your energy supplier may also be able to offer support, including access to a smart meter or new payment plans.

Smart meters are installed at no extra cost.
They can help you track energy use in near-real time.
They can be part of your support network at home.

Troy Deeney puts it best, explaining "throughout my time in football I’ve been surrounded by a squad on and off the pitch, and having that support network around me helped me navigate highs and lows. It’s vital that fans can rely on people they trust too."

"As well as friends and family, it’s also important we have the best tools available to form part of our squads, just like my old managers used to. If you’re struggling with bills, a smart meter could be really helpful for you.

"My nan recently had one installed, and it’s great for us, as part of her squad, to know that she is getting accurate energy bills and a better understanding of what she’s spending."