Across rural France, initiatives multiply to save struggling village football clubs | OneFootball

From 2011 to 2019 more than 2,000 rural clubs disappeared. Across the Oise, Lot-et-Garonne, Sarthe and Normandy, communities are trying to keep village football alive, L'Équipe reports.

In Talmontiers, mayor Brigitte Cochet backed a 2021 revival after years of a derelict pitch. Enzo Togni founded FC Savérien in 2024 at La Sauvetat-de-Savères, Adrien Lair revived AF Basly three summers earlier, and at CO Cormes Jason Rayer rebuilt after a blocked 2022 promotion.

Local firms back Cormes and Cochet mobilised the town hall, budgets are tight. Savérien still lacks a ground due to works, plays only away and misses bar income, so it leaned on communications and sold 350 shirts.

Talmontiers has a city stadium, and clubs run lotteries and flea markets to build momentum, with Basly seeking lift after its kindergarten closed in 2024.

With few youngsters, some share youth sections or merge, though Rayer warns over-regrouping could force 80 kilometres of travel. Savérien has added a women’s team, Cormes has 60 members and Basly 75.

Basly’s first team has climbed three divisions, bringing tougher criteria on youth numbers, licensed referees and facilities. Talmontiers have gone up two tiers to 150 licences, and Cochet doubts villages can keep pace.

In 2019, socio-historian Jean Bréhon recorded 2,870 clubs ceasing activity between 2011 and 2019, 72% in rural communes. The FFF says there are about 12,000 clubs now, down from more than 15,000, and it offers funding, though Bréhon says the help often misses clubs due to poor awareness among leaders.

Source: L'Équipe