UK Sports Sector Clears Payment Hurdles, But Some Clubs Lag Far Behind

The Numbers

• Companies analysed: 19
• Average PaymentCheck Score: 74.8/100
• UK average: 50.0/100 (Sports is 24.8 points above)
• Top payer: PFPL PROJECTS SURREY HEATH LTD - 98.4/100
• Bottom payer: NORWICH CITY FOOTBALL CLUB PLC - 46.3/100
• Wales average: 90.3/100 (1 company)
• London average: 81.8/100 (7 companies)
• West Midlands average: 77.7/100 (2 companies)
• North West average: 73.7/100 (6 companies)
• Scotland average: 56.9/100 (2 companies)

What Stands Out

The UK sports sector, on average, significantly outperforms the UK average when it comes to payment practices. However, the substantial gap between the top and bottom payers indicates considerable inconsistency within the sector; while PFPL PROJECTS SURREY HEATH LTD almost hit a perfect score (98.4), Norwich City Football Club PLC barely scrapes by at 46.3. Football clubs are heavily represented at both ends of the spectrum, suggesting payment performance isn't necessarily tied to the sport itself. If you're affected by late payments, you can use this late payment calculator to understand the financial impact.

Best Payers

1. PFPL PROJECTS SURREY HEATH LTD - 98.4/100
2. PFPL PROJECTS (EPPING) LTD - 96.8/100
3. STOKE CITY FOOTBALL CLUB LIMITED - 91.33/100
4. THE WELSH RUGBY UNION LIMITED - 90.3/100
5. MANCHESTER CITY FOOTBALL CLUB LIMITED - 89.3/100

Worst Payers

1. NORWICH CITY FOOTBALL CLUB PLC - 46.3/100
2. CELTIC F.C. LIMITED - 54.8/100
3. EVERTON FOOTBALL CLUB COMPANY, LIMITED - 58.95/100
4. BOUYGUES E&S CONTRACTING UK LIMITED - 59.03/100
5. EVERTON FOOTBALL CLUB WOMEN LIMITED - 60.8/100

Regional Patterns

Wales is represented by a single company with a very high payment score (90.3), which significantly skews the regional average upwards. Scotland has the lowest average score at 56.9, albeit based on only two companies, while London, with a larger sample size (7), shows solid performance at 81.8. The concentration of football clubs in the North West likely influences its middle-ground score of 73.7.

The sport sector, while beating the UK average by nearly 25 points, shows a large disparity; top performers like PFPL Projects are almost twice as fast as the worst like Norwich City, indicating that industry-level statistics don’t guarantee smooth sailing.