Since opening in 2011, The Malt Shovel in Selby has built one of the most impressive grassroots sporting legacies of any pub in the UK. What began with two football teams has grown into a 20-team football club serving more than 300 registered players. The pub now supports football, darts, pool, dominoes, netball, cricket, and golf, all while serving home-cooked meals to visiting teams and helping train the next generation of referees and coaches.
The Malt Shovel’s impact on community sport is comprehensive and consistent:
- Football Club Growth:
- Founded in 2014, now home to 20 teams from Under 6s to Veterans.
- Offers free training at schools and leisure centres for children as young as four.
- Provides hot food and hospitality after every game, including the now-famous Sausage Tikka Masala.
- Recognised as one of the highest-ranked pub teams in England.
- Wider Sports Support:
- Fields teams in darts, pool, dominoes, and a charity cricket squad.
- Hosts a golf society playing at local courses.
- Helped set up and fund the Selby Netball Club.
- Volunteering and Facility Support:
- Maintains local pitches through a volunteer group of pub regulars.
- Worked with companies like McDonald’s, Aviva, and Saint-Gobain to clean, paint, and improve facilities.
- Organises annual football galas featuring family fun, local food traders, bouncy castles, and craft stalls.
- Charity Partnerships:
- Supports Selby Hands of Hope and Macmillan Cancer Trust through regular tournaments, including cricket and football friendlies and footgolf.
- Inclusivity and Access:
- Ensures older community members can take part in pub teams by offering lifts and flexible leagues.
- Actively mentors new referees and coaches with funding and support.
The pub and its sporting projects are widely loved. Residents see The Malt Shovel as the glue holding local grassroots sport together. Without it, the social and recreational landscape of Selby would be far less vibrant and connected.
Over 300 people participate in club activities weekly, with dozens more involved in volunteering, coaching, and event support. The club has transformed council-maintained pitches, uplifted local pride, created safe and inclusive spaces for sport, and inspired partnerships with schools, businesses, and national charities.
The Malt Shovel is not just a pub- it’s a sporting institution and a beacon of what’s possible when a local business puts its community first. By blending passion, food, fun, and football, it’s created a lasting impact that reaches far beyond Selby.
