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Sports Payment Practices Report 2024

13 September 2025•By Alastair Campbell, Founder•Reports

UK Sports Sector Payments: A Mixed Bag, But Generally Better Than Average

The Numbers

  • Companies analysed: 13
  • Average PaymentCheck Score: 77.0/100
  • UK average PaymentCheck Score: 50.0/100
  • Sports sector above UK average: 27.0 points
  • Top payer: PARKWOOD LEISURE LIMITED - 92.2/100
  • Bottom payer: ASTON VILLA FOOTBALL CLUB LIMITED - 56.6/100
  • Highest regional average: North West - 81.9/100 (4 companies)
  • Lowest regional average: South East - 61.5/100 (1 company)

What Stands Out

The UK sports sector's average PaymentCheck score significantly outstrips the national average, suggesting a generally healthy payment culture. However, there's a considerable disparity between the best and worst performers, indicating inconsistent payment practices across the industry.

Best Payers

  1. PARKWOOD LEISURE LIMITED - 92.2/100
  2. FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION LIMITED - 91.58/100
  3. STOKE CITY FOOTBALL CLUB LIMITED - 89.94/100
  4. MANCHESTER CITY FOOTBALL CLUB LIMITED - 85.2/100
  5. CHELSEA FC HOLDINGS LIMITED - 83.6/100

Worst Payers

  1. ASTON VILLA FOOTBALL CLUB LIMITED - 56.6/100
  2. THE GOODWOOD CLUB LIMITED - 61.47/100
  3. CELTIC F.C. LIMITED - 65.5/100
  4. THE ARSENAL FOOTBALL CLUB LIMITED - 66.95/100
  5. MANCHESTER UNITED FOOTBALL CLUB LIMITED - 73.1/100

Regional Patterns

The North West boasts the highest regional average at 81.9, driven by the strong payment performance of its four companies, while the single company assessed in the South East pulls that region down to the lowest average of 61.5. The presence of Celtic F.C. appears to have resulted in Scotland’s relatively low average of 65.5.

Struggling with late payments? This late payment calculator can help you calculate interest and compensation.

While the sports sector beats the average, Aston Villa Football Club, at 56.6, still scores nearly 21 points lower than the sector average of 77.

Still waiting to be paid?

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Categories

Loading categories...

Recent Posts

Loading recent posts...

Resources

  • Late Invoice Calculator
  • Company Search
  • Browse by Sector
  • Browse by Region

Share Your Story

Have you experienced late payments? Share your story to help other businesses.

Submit Your Story

PaymentCheck

Our mission is to change the culture of late payments in the UK and help save over 55,000 companies every year which close due to cashflow issues.

Services

  • Payment Check
  • Business Solutions
  • API Access
  • Invoice Calculator
  • Late Payment Help
  • Get Your Score
  • Get Certified
  • For Accountants

Company

  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Blog
  • Search Archive
  • Compare
  • EULA
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions

Awards

  • Methodology
  • 2025 Awards
  • 2024 Awards
  • 2023 Awards
  • 2022 Awards
  • 2021 Awards
  • 2020 Awards

Contact

  • office@paymentcheck.co.uk
  • +44 (0) 7915 608 057
  • Send Your Story

© 2026 Payment Check Ltd

Registered Address: 3rd Floor Suite 207 Regent Street London W1B 3HH

Made by Alastair Campbell