User:Footballcontributor/sandbox

Footy Addicts is an open platform and community that connects casual football players with local small sided games across the United Kingdom. Founded in 2013, the organisation emphasises the physical and mental health benefits of football, with a focus on accessibility, social integration and well-being.

History
Initiated in 2009 by Konstantinos Gkortsilas in London, Footy Addicts was formally established in April 2013. The concept was to enable anyone to sign up and participate in football games throughout the city.

In 2014, with Jonathan Suárez and Danny Taeidy joining as co-founders, the company expanded its operations in Manchester.

As of 2023, the user base of Footy Addicts includes over 220,000 registered players, spread across 9 major UK cities: London, Manchester, Birmingham, Leicester, Liverpool, Nottingham, Leeds, Bristol and Glasgow.

Community Impact
Footy Addicts is affiliated with the local governing bodies such as the London Football Association, Birmingham Football Association and Manchester Football Association , contributing to the development of recreational football in these regions.

Notable media coverage includes:


 * A film by Mundial Magazine discussing the role of football in local communities.
 * Features in The Guardian Football Weekly Podcast, The Telegraph , Manchester Evening News , the MANC , MyLondon , and the Islington Gazette.

Technology
The platform is accessible via a website and a mobile application and provides tools to find, organise, and participate in casual football matches tailored to users' preferences and locations.

Key platform functionalities include:

User Profiles

Every registered member has a user profile, allowing for the searching and joining of local games, and communicating with organisers and other participants.

Game Creation and Management

Game organisers can set up and manage football games, specifying the date, time, venue, and number of players required.

Real-time Notification

Players receive instant notifications about messages received, game comments, venue changes, and other critical game-related information.

Rating and Feedback

After each game, players can rate their experience and provide feedback, ensuring the quality and safety of the games organised through the platform.

Geolocation Services

The platform employs geolocation technology to suggest games nearby a user's location.