Figures reveal scale of Facilities Fund investment

Since it was launched in 2013, the Premier League & The FA Facilities Fund (PLFAFF) has played an important role in improving local sport participation in communities up and down the country.

In the last six months alone, the Fund has awarded grants to 163 facility projects to build and refurbish facilities that will improve experiences for regular players as well as attracting new ones to the game.

These grants, worth £14million for projects totalling £57million, will be delivered by the Football Foundation for items such a grass pitches, artificial pitches, floodlights, changing rooms, goalposts and pitch maintenance equipment.

"The Football Foundation's underlying strategy of delivering quality community facilities where they are needed most and can be best utilised is something the Premier League has long-supported," Richard Scudamore, Executive Chairman of the Premier League, said. 

"Creating opportunities for young people to play football and get involved with other sports is incredibly important to developing a taste for sport and exercise and all the ancillary benefits that brings to life. It also forges stronger bonds between communities and the professional football clubs sustained by them."

This announcement of 163 grants follows on from the recent statement by the UK Government to strengthen sport in the UK from community to the elite level. As part of the strategy, the Premier League has agreed with the Government that, given the increase in its broadcasting income for 2016/19, it will double its investment into community football over the coming three seasons.

The Premier League, The FA and the Government, via Sport England have provided £102million between 2013 and 2016 for the Facilities Fund. The Football Foundation targets this investment into areas of greatest need and where it will have maximum effect.

Last season, facilities that the Football Foundation upgraded with the Fund’s investment recorded an average increase in football participation of 7%.  Multi-sport participation also increased by an average of 8% at those same sites.

Many of the new facilities will be used to strengthen the bond between professional football clubs and their local communities, particularly in the most deprived areas of the country, as they will become hubs for the clubs' community trusts' outreach work.

"Improving grassroots football facilities is vital to help us get more people involved in the game and nurture our future football stars," Tracey Crouch MP, Minister for Sport, said. "This latest £14million worth of investment, from the Premier League, FA and Government, will benefit community football across the country in locations that need it most."

Included among the 163 projects is a £342,265 grant to Communities First Foundation and the London Borough of Croydon for refurbishment and a new floodlit 3G turf pitch. This will increase participation over five years, with most of that increase in the youth, 14-25 and female sections. The facility will also be used by the local community and other local clubs.

Another example is a £500,000 grant to Beech Hill Primary School, in Halifax, for a new floodlit 3G pitch. The new facility is expected to increase the number of teams using the site from 52 to 64 while enabling FA Level One and Level Two courses, goalkeeping coaching and junior football leader awards to be held at the site.

"Sports pitches and pavilions are used by millions of people each week, so it's important that we make sure they're high quality, welcoming and accessible for everyone," Nick Bitel, Sport England Chair, said. "We're proud to be working with the FA, Premier League, Government and Football Foundation to create so many excellent facilities that benefit people now, and for years to come."