Looking for something to keep the kids busy this summer holiday that won’t cost you a penny? Utilita Football are bringing a free family football festival to Middlesbrough, and you’re invited to join!
It all takes place at Southlands Community and Sports Hub, the home of MFC Foundation, from 12–3pm on Thursday 13 August 2026. Expect a packed afternoon of football, games, food and entertainment for the whole family to enjoy – the perfect way to spend the summer school holidays in the sun.
Families have been invited through MFC Foundation, the official charity of Middlesbrough Football Club. Its work spans the local area, from education and employability schemes that help individuals into work and training, to health and wellbeing programmes and social inclusion projects that bring the community together.
But the festival is about more than just a kickabout. This is a day built around the local community, bringing families and local organisations together, with plenty of community support on hand.
What’s on at the Utilita Football Festival?
Of course, football is at the heart of it. Four pitches will be set out by age group, with activities changing every hour so there’s always something new to try, whatever your child’s age or ability.
Away from the pitches, there’s plenty more to get involved with outside:
- Football golf on the grass pitch.
- Inflatable football dartboard.
- Space hopper racetrack.
- The Boro Bus, kitted out with PlayStations and other activities.
- Music throughout the whole afternoon.
And to keep everyone going, there’s FREE pizza and ice cream – what’s not to love?
The Championship and Carabao Cup trophies will also be on-site for photos, and Middlesbrough striker Tommy Conway will be attending for meet-and-greets and photo opportunities.
Are there indoor activities at the Utilita Football Festival too?
Yes! Head indoors for arts and crafts, board games, Just Dance and a calm space to take a breather from all the football outside.
There’s also a workshop bringing together local Age Well groups, giving older members of the Middlesbrough community a chance to get involved on the day. Local support services will be on hand too.
What is Football Rebooted?
Football Rebooted is football’s biggest environmental movement, helping Britain rehome pre-loved football boots through free collection points – so clubs, schools and organisations can get good-quality boots back onto the pitch, with no one missing out.
The team will be on hand throughout the day, and it’s a good chance to introduce our campaign to families who might not have come across it before.
It’s good for the planet as well as your pocket. Every pair of boots made produces around 30 lbs of carbon emissions. So, our aim is to save one million pairs from landfill, which could save an estimated 13,636 tonnes of carbon1 – that’s the same as turning the energy off in one million homes for over a week2.
On the day, the Football Rebooted team will be running a lace-race challenge and encouraging families to donate any spare boots gathering dust at home.
How are Utilita supporting local communities?
At Utilita, we think days like this matter. Bringing people together, keeping pre-loved football boots in circulation and giving families a free day out are all part of the same idea, supporting the local communities we’re part of.
That’s why our Energy Hub team will be there too, offering face-to-face energy advice and support for any families who want it. No phone lines, no online forms, just a friendly face and practical help.
It’s the same thinking behind our high street Energy Hubs, where anyone (not just Utilita customers) can drop in for account support, energy-saving tips or a quick chat. Because the cheapest energy is the energy you don’t use, and small changes at home can make a real difference.
Come and join us at Southlands Community and Sports Hub
The Football Festival is free and open to all local families, taking place at Southlands Community and Sports Hub on Thursday 13 August from 12–3pm.
Can’t make it but got spare boots at home? Find your nearest Football Rebooted collection point. And if you’d like to know more about the energy support on offer, find your nearest Energy Hub.
- 30 lbs of carbon emissions per pair of football boots x 1 million pairs of boots rehomed / 2,200 lbs (in a tonne) = 13,636 tonnes of carbon saved. ↩
- Based on a medium-sized house. Per day (7.94kWh x 0.207074kg), a medium-sized home generates 1.64kg of carbon emissions. 1.64kg is equivalent to 3.615 lbs. 30 lbs (generated by manufacturing new boots) is equivalent to 13.6kg / 1.64 = 8.29 (days) of energy. ↩