Switching to solar as Utilita powers up Staplewood
Men's First Team and Academy players mark major milestone at Staplewood Training Campus
With our Official Sustainability Partner, Utilita, we today marked a major milestone in our partnership with the official switching on of the club’s solar panel installation at its Staplewood Training Campus.
More than 450 solar panels have now been installed across the Pavilion and Gym roofs, delivering a substantial boost to our renewable energy use and supporting The Halo Effect—our long-term environmental strategy.
The Switch-On Event brought together players, partners, community figures and project stakeholders, highlighting the collaborative effort behind the installation.
In attendance were:
Tom Fellows and Jay Robinson – Men’s First Team players
Harry Gathercole and Korban McMullan – U18 Academy players
Councillor John Savage of Southampton City Council
Key staff from Southampton FC and Utilita
The event opened with a welcome address from Greg Baker, our Chief Revenue Officer, and Bill Bullen, Chief Executive Officer of Utilita Energy, highlighting the importance of sport-led leadership in sustainability and community responsibility.
This was followed by a project presentation from Darren Pollard, our Head of Estates, who outlined the delivery of the installation, the technical scope of the project, and its long-term environmental and operational benefits for the club.
Greg Baker, our Chief Revenue Officer, said: “This is a great moment for the club. What began as a sustainability commitment has now become a visible, working renewable energy solution that will benefit Southampton FC for years to come. This project shows how football can drive meaningful environmental change.”
Bill Bullen, Chief Executive Officer, Utilita Energy, added: “This partnership demonstrates how organisations can turn ambition into action. Today’s switch-on is not just symbolic. It’s practical, measurable progress towards a cleaner energy future.”
The solar installation is expected to contribute a significant proportion of the site’s electricity demand, reduce reliance on grid power, and deliver long-term cost and carbon savings. Southampton FC and Utilita will continue to share updates on the project’s performance and explore further opportunities to advance sustainability across the club’s operations.
