In 2016 The FA launched an £8 million commitment to improve football pitches across the country over the next four years.

The Pitch Improvement Programme (PIP) will deliver improvements to more than 2,000 grass pitches.

The FA facilities & investment team works in partnership with the Institute of Groundsmanship to develop a grass pitch maintenance service which can be utilised by grassroots football clubs, with the simple aim of improving the quality of grass pitches.

To find out more and how to apply, please contact your local County Football Association

PIP will provide a range of support services to grassroots clubs, club volunteers and groundsmen including on-site evaluations with practical advice and recommendations.

It will also include a range of measures to help develop the skills and knowledge of the volunteers and groundsmen including seminars and workshops.

One of the great challenges that many clubs in grassroots football face is that 83 per cent of pitches in England are publicly owned and, as austerity measures kick in, local authority budgets are increasingly being squeezed. Funds for pitch maintenance are often at risk as councils are forced to prioritise essential services.

The official roll out of the PIP follows extensive piloting which has already seen £1 million invested and over 800 visits to grassroots football pitches by trained experts.

To support the programme The FA has appointed two industry partners, Redexim Charterhouse and Rigby Taylor, who will assist in the roll out by supplying FA-affiliated grassroots clubs with discounted product and materials and also support the training workshops.

Click here to read the Pitch Improvement Programme FAQs.