• Jermain Defoe, Toni Duggan and Ray Parlour team up to launch ‘Watch and Wash’ with E.ON Next

• Ex England pros are encouraging football fans to lower their bills by doing the washing during this summer’s nighttime matches, when 8 million1 fans will be setting their alarms for important games

• Legends go head-to-head across three laundry-themed football challenges to illustrate how fans could collectively save more than £93 million on their bill through off-peak electricity use with Next Smart Saver this summer2

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With late-night kick-offs set to send sleep schedules into extra time this summer, a trio of football greats are stepping up with a game plan to help fans score savings while they cheer on their team.

E.ON Next has joined forces with former England legends, Jermain Defoe, Ray ‘The Romford Pelé’ Parlour and Toni Duggan to encourage football fans to adjust their tactics and save on the cost of electricity by getting their washing done while they enjoy late night matches.

The campaign launches as Professor of Energy, Dr Jan Rosenow, reveals that switching to a time of use tariff that offers lower electricity prices during off-peak hours, could help the nation collectively save more than £93 million on electricity bills this summer.

To help spread the word, the three legends got back in their training kit and took part in a series of high-energy, laundry themed football challenges – Top Washing Bins, The Smart Energy Shoot Out and Spin and Score – designed to show just how easy it is to turn washing into a win on the household scoresheet and encourage the nation to ‘Watch and Wash’.

The challenges saw the players attempt to hit penalties into washing machines, get target practice across a full line up on a washing line, and attempt to curl freekicks into washing baskets.

The campaign comes as new research3 from E.ON Next reveals 8 million fans1 plan to tune into late-night fixtures and over two thirds (64%) expect disrupted sleep and altered routines, losing 4 hours of shuteye on average, and over a third (35%) reporting they plan to stay up all night.

Nearly a third of respondents (30%) admit they’ve booked annual leave after important nighttime matches, with this rising to almost half (48%) of 25–34-year-olds versus those aged 55+ (13%).

Despite 45% revealing they find it hard to change their daily habits, over a third (37%) admit they often change their routine to allow them to watch major football events.

Yet while these late-night hours feel like added time, they also offer a window of opportunity to get household chores done (36%) and as a result, make better use of cheaper electricity outside peak hours.

With washing machines responsible for 14% of household bills4, ‘Watch and Wash’ forms part of E.ON Next’s mission to help customers stay on the ball with their energy use through its Next Smart Saver tariff. This time of use tariff offers cheaper electricity during off-peak (5am-4pm, 7pm-2am) and super off-peak (2am-5am) hours.

And the potential for savings doesn’t stop when the final whistle blows this summer. Top economist, Dr Jan Rosenow reveals households could save £230 over the course of the year with Next Smart Saver by switching activities such as watching TV for an hour, cooking and kitchen work, ironing, popping a load in the tumble dryer, and using an electric shower from peak to off-peak times5. Scale that across the UK and these everyday changes have the potential to deliver savings of up to £6.7 billion6.

Julian Lennertz, Chief Commercial Officer at E.ON Next said: “Football has a unique ability to get the nation to switch its routines according to matches – and this summer is no exception. Millions are set to be awake for nighttime games, unaware that it’s also one of the cheapest times to use electricity. Watch and Wash isn’t about asking people to change what they do, but showing people how to benefit more from what they’re already doing. With our Next Smart Saver tariff, small shifts could add up to big savings, not just over the summer but year-round.”

Jermain Defoe added: “I've scored a few penalties in my time, but hitting a washing machine from the spot is a different challenge entirely. Jokes aside, if you're staying up for the late kick-offs this summer, make it count. Stick a wash on during the game and you could be saving money at the same time. Simple as that.”

Ray Parlour added: “I’ve been called the Romford Pelé for a reason – but curling a ball into a laundry basket is another matter. Now it’s time for the nation to score clean sheets too. You’re up watching the game, so you might as well make the most of it. Get the washing on and you’re playing it smart.”

Toni Duggan said: "I've played at the highest level of the women’s game, so I backed myself going into the Smart Energy Shoot-Out. Hitting shirts on a washing line is a different kind of target practice — but the message behind it is serious. If you're staying up to watch the football this summer, your energy bill doesn't have to suffer for it. Small changes at the right time make a real difference."

The ‘Watch and Wash’ challenge series is now live and Jermain Defoe, who netted an impressive 22 penalties during his pro-football career, was crowned the overall winner and presented with a trophy by young players from Buckhurst Hill FC.

E.ON Next is a proud partner of the FA and Buckhurst Hill FC is just one of the clubs that has benefitted from the Greener Game programme, an initiative from England Football and E.ON Next, which is decarbonising grassroots clubs and helping them to lower their bills so they can invest back into their clubs and communities.

To find out more about E.ON Next’s time of use tariff, head to eonnext.com/tariffs/next-smart-saver.

Savings will vary depending on your home and tariff. Always follow machine manufacturer guidance and consider what’s practical and safe for your household.

Next Smart Saver is a 12-month fixed-term tariff with three electricity rates. T&Cs apply. Rates were correct as of 29.05.26.

• Peak (4pm-7pm), costing 38.61p/kWh

• Off-peak (5am-4pm, 7pm-2am), costing 18.03p/kWh

• Super off-peak (2am-5am), costing 13.15p/kWh

1. The figure of approximately 8.2 million was extrapolated by applying three sequential findings from the survey to the UK adult population (18+) of 55,022,253: 82.3% said they would watch the World Cup; of those, 66.2% planned to watch games kicking off at 2am or later; and of those, 27.25% planned to set an alarm. This gives an estimated 14.85% of the UK adult population — equivalent to approximately 8.2 million people.

2. We identified the cheapest Next Smart Saver kick-off time on each of the 35 World Cup match days, compared the cost of running a standard 1 kWh washing machine load at that rate against the 24.67p/kWh Apr-Jun Ofgem price cap for matches in June and the 26.11p/kWh Jul-Sep Ofgem price cap for matches in July, and scaled the per-household saving across the UK's 28.1 million households with a washing machine (ONS household statistics). Next Smart Saver rates accurate of 29 May 2026.

3. The research was conducted by Censuswide, among a sample of 2,000 UK General Respondents (Nat Rep 18+). The data was collected between 18.05.2026 - 20.05.2026.

4. According to The Energy Saving Trust

5. Potential savings calculated by comparing the cost of five typical daily household activities - watching TV, cooking and kitchen use, ironing, running the tumble dryer and taking an electric shower - at the standard variable tariff rate of 26.11p per kWh against the Next Smart Saver off-peak rate of 18.033p per kWh. Next Smart Saver rates accurate of 29 May 2026.

6. The daily saving was multiplied by 365 to produce an annual figure and scaled across 28.6 million UK households. Next Smart Saver rates accurate of 29 May 2026.

About E.ON Next

E.ON Next is committed to providing innovative energy solutions that empower customers while contributing to a sustainable future. With a focus on affordability and customer satisfaction, E.ON Next offers a range of products and services designed to meet the evolving needs of households across the UK. www.eonnext.com

About Greener Game

E.ON Next and The FA have joined forces to support grassroots football with a long-term partnership aimed at making clubs’ facilities more energy efficient. The Greener Game will empower grassroots clubs by providing them with investment opportunities for sustainable upgrades, alongside a wealth of educational resources and energy-saving guides.

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