1
Prepare your match squad
Paste your squad straight from WhatsApp or snap a photo of a team sheet. No typing names in one by one. Mark who's absent, pick your starters and bench, and your prep is saved for each team until kick-off.
How Pocket Gaffer works
From squad setup to match report, here's how grassroots football coaches use Pocket Gaffer to run fair, organised matchdays in seven simple steps.
2
Choose your formation
Drag your starters into position for kick-off. Whether you play 5-a-side, 7-a-side, 9-a-side, or 11-a-side, Pocket Gaffer adapts to your match format.
3
Plan the match
Set your match format, structure and duration, then choose a playing time strategy: equal time for everyone, or your own custom plan.
4
Share a live link with parents
Before kick-off, share a private live link on WhatsApp. Parents follow every goal, substitution and the score as it happens. No app needed on their end.
5
Run the match live
Track goals, assists and minutes from the touchline. Fair-play prompts show who's next on, so every kid gets their minutes.
6
Share the match report
After the final whistle, pick a player of the match and just speak your thoughts. Pocket Gaffer turns them into a tidy report you check before sharing to WhatsApp or as a PDF.
7
Review the season & create player reports
See every match, goal and minute across your season. At Christmas or presentation night, create a report for each player in seconds: positive badges, highlights from your match notes and your own summary, then share to WhatsApp or as a PDF with your club badge.
Pass the Whistle · Match cover
Can't make the match? Send it to a stand-in.
Send your assistant or a parent a one-match link on WhatsApp. They get your lineup and the subs timer, can adjust for late drop-outs before kick-off, and the match saves to your season automatically. You can watch along and take the whistle back any time.
Designed for grassroots and youth football teams
Pocket Gaffer is built specifically for volunteer coaches managing youth football teams in the UK. Whether you're coaching Under-7s or Under-16s, mini soccer or full 11-a-side, the app adapts to your match format and keeps the parents in the loop with a live match link.
- ✓ Works with every format from 3v3 to 11v11: all grassroots age groups
- ✓ Supports FA power plays when the scoreline opens up
- ✓ Supports multiple periods and rolling subs
- ✓ Share a live match link so parents follow every goal and sub
- ✓ Season and tournament reports on matches, goals and playing time
- ✓ Mobile-first design for touchline use
- ✓ Works with no signal at the pitch. Matches save on your phone and upload later