Stressed-out sports captains, struggling to put out a team on a cold Tuesday evening in Stoke, have been thrown a lifeline – an app which links up available sportspeople with local teams in need of players.

Find A Player, a start-up business based in Glasgow, has launched the app after raising £150,000 (US$214,314, €196,405) via a crowdfunding initiative.

The free app lists more than 140 sports; offers the chance to build a personalised sports network; lets you rate players on skill, fitness and reliability; and allows users to schedule availability on a day-to-day basis.

Captains, managers and coaches will be able to access a list of available players in the local area to call upon as last minute replacements.

“I’m an avid sportsman, having been involved in lots of different sports, at various levels, from a young age,” said founder Jim Law. “I’ve seen and felt the benefits of regular participation first hand and with Find A Player I really just wanted to deliver a product that makes it easier for people to play sports at times and places that suit them best.

“Basically we’re delivering a hub between sports people and games, allowing each user to build their own local sports network.”

The app has been backed by former Betfair chief financial officer Owen O’Donnell and co-founder of Music Magpie Steve Oliver.

It will initially launch in Scotland, followed by the rest of the UK, with the “intention of rolling out internationally” over the coming years.