Grassroots esports has plenty of passionate, talented people and organisations, so why is it so underlooked and underfunded in the UK? Vulpine Esports/Academy founder and esports lecturer at Havant and South Downs College (HSDC), Lizzie Squires, asks.
In the few years that I have been in the industry, one thing has been made implicitly clear, and that is grassroots esports is not seen as it should be in the ecosystem.
The biggest and most successful organisations that operate out of the pro scene space are often aware of the existence – but possibly not the importance – of all the many smaller organisations. And in my opinion, there are clear indications as to why.
Grassroots esports is fragmented like small baronies within a kingdom, with each of these smaller organisations operating in vastly different ways and with differing focus. There are organisations, for example, that come together for one tournament or league and disband, or have huge ambitions, but a lack of industry experience, and end up folding, being swallowed up by bigger fish, plodding along – or fizzling out.
Other organisations are run with no experience of business, just a passion for a game or a dream to ‘make it big’ without any gameplan or patience to understand that it’s extremely difficult to make it to the big leagues like Fnatic or Excel in a year or two, unless you have major funding and investment. And even then, without that knowledge or background it can become very challenging.
In essence, this fragmentation in a fiercely competitive industry with no regulations or fiscal responsibility, becomes either a non-entity to the top echelons, or such a risk on their reputation and status that most major organisations stay well away.
It feels almost like grassroots esports organisations are the ‘younger children’ of the bigger teams and too wild and unruly to be a viable part of the ecosystem. Honestly this is truly sad when those types of negative or fleeting orgs account for a small subsection of the whole sector, with a few of the bigger organisations in the sphere trying tirelessly to make a huge difference.
Notably, UK organisations like Lionscreed, run by such an ambitious and dedicated man in esports, Abdiqani ‘Ab’ Ahmed, has made huge leaps (no pun intended) in bringing more people in the industry together, and a true example of what can happen if you want it enough.
“The whole sector needs an independent functional regulatory or support body in my opinion, that actively supports and helps firm up the prerequisites and functionality of grassroots esports organisations in particular.”
My org, Vulpine Esports, still operate as a traditional esports team, and have sections of their profile focused on social inclusion and diversity, bringing experiences to young people who currently don’t often get a chance to participate in practical industry work experience.
And you couldn’t talk about grassroots without mentioning NSE and NUEL, who provide a huge opportunity for university students to get tournament and event experience and have become major players across the country.
These are the types of organisations that ‘get it’ and understand that to increase the viability and sustainability of grassroots esports in the UK, there needs to be a level of professionalism and focus, along with a soupçon of diverse portfolios and focus.
So, what can we do as a rapidly growing ecosystem, to help make grassroots a viable and fundable part of the whole industry?
The whole sector needs an independent functional regulatory or support body in my opinion, that actively supports and helps firm up the prerequisites and functionality of grassroots esports organisations in particular. Although the likes of the British Esports Federation exist and are a force majeure in UK esports, they’re known more for their educational work.
There’s hope that increased interest from local and national government bodies (along with the potential introductions of SIC codes to show growth in economic viability) could also impact the sector. This could create more opportunities for grassroots sports funding, encouraging more grassroots esports organisations to be more professional and stable.
But what’s truly most important for me, and those like me who work tirelessly to support a positive and professional experience at the grassroots level, is for us to have a voice and be heard by those who make the big decisions in whatever area they work in.
In the end, some of the talent that grows from the wide bottom of the funnel, where we exist, who go on to become the movers and shakers in this amazing industry, need to feel like that “path to pro” is supported and gives them the positive start they need.
Follow Lizzie Squires on Twitter and see Vulpine Esports website here
Lizzie is the founder of UK esports organisation Vulpine Esports and schools initiative Vulpine Academy, which offers work experience opportunities and workshops for students in schools.
She also works as an
