Grassroots projects get £7m from The FA and Premier League

Tuesday 07 Oct 2014
88 facilities will benefit from the investment
The Football Association and Premier League have ploughed £7 million into supporting 88 grassroots facilities across the country.

The grant has been made to the Football Foundation, and it follows on from the £5.8m investment made from the Premier League and The FA Facilities Fund in June. 

The latest grant forms part of a £31m injection to develop a host of new sport facilities around the country, such as floodlit third-generation (3G) artificial grass pitches and modern changing rooms.

"The investment by The FA through the Football Foundation continues to make a genuine impact on the quality of football facilities"

Alex Horne, The FA General Secretary

"This investment from the Premier League, The FA and Government is going to make a huge difference to community sport up and down the country," said Helen Grant MP, Minister for Sport and Equalities. "The state-of-the-art 3G pitches will encourage greater participation all-year round as well as help develop the next generation of talent."

Funded by the The FA, the Premier League and the government, via Sport England, the fund is delivered by the Football Foundation, the country’s largest sports charity. It aims to not only improve the experience of current players, but looks to attract a host of new people to the game.

Alex Horne, general secretary of The FA, said: "The investment by The FA through the Football Foundation continues to make a genuine impact on the quality of football facilities up and down the country.

"This latest tranche of funding presents even more opportunities to boost grassroots and deliver a highly efficient investment programme into facilities across the country."

Through providing more high-quality facilities, coupled with coaching at the appropriate age group, the connection between professional football clubs and their local communities is strengthened the clubs’ community trust outreach work.

"Our commitment to the grassroots game is unprecedented and unparalleled‎ with hundreds of millions of pounds being invested by us into the game which benefits communities across the county," said Richard Scudamore, chief executive of the Premier League.

"This investment will help to provide first-class facilities in some of the most deprived areas of the country"

Paul Thorogood, chief executive of the Football Foundation

"Thanks to the outreach work of professional clubs, not only do the facilities help to improve the experience of grassroots football, but they also promote good health, educational opportunities and social cohesion. We want to encourage as many people as possible to get themselves involved in the game."

Paul Thorogood, chief executive of the Football Foundation, says the latest grant will help to "regenerate" local communities.

"This investment will help to provide first-class facilities in some of the most deprived areas of the country, providing links with professional football clubs to help improve the sporting experience for local people and have a positive effect on their health in the process."

To find out more about grassroots football, or to get involved with your local County FA, follow this link.

By FA Staff