The Football Foundation is Unlocking the Power of Pitches

February 2, 2024

When the Premier League, the FA (Football Association) and the UK Government formed the Football Foundation in 2000, they all had the same vision: to fund sporting facilities that would raise the level of competition and increase player engagement. In 2024, their mission is to ensure that everyone has a great place to play with a goal of this year being their biggest yet.

“Good quality facilities not only have a transformative impact on physical and mental wellbeing, but also play an important role in bringing people together and strengthening local communities from the roots up,” states Football Foundation CEO, Robert Sullivan. “This year, the Football Foundation will provide more great places to play than ever before.”

As the UK’s largest sports charity, the Football Foundation provides grassroots football facilities where demand and impact are the greatest. They are currently accepting applications for everything from goalposts to changing pavilions through their “Together For Football” initiative.

The full line up of advice and funding opportunities is available on their website including:

• Grass pitch improvement
• Creation of new grass pitches
• Fencing
• Small-sided facility improvement
• Goalposts
• Storage containers
• Portable floodlights
• Changing pavilions and clubhouses
• 3G Pitch Maintenance Machinery & Equipment
• 3G Pitches
• Premier League Stadium Fund
• Premier League Defibrillator Fund

In addition, a new £6M “Energy Support Programme” has launched to help grassroots clubs and organizations become more energy efficient. Funding options for catering units are also to come.

If your club or organization is looking for support, apply via the Football Foundation’s Grant Application Portal. Submissions can only be made by people holding the role of either Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary or Treasurer of the club applying, which will be verified with the County FA during the assessment process.

The Foundation is also launching a range of initiatives over the next 12 months to ensure that its support reaches those who need it most including:

• Opening the first Football Foundation PlayZone: small-sided pitches designed by and for the local communities in which they’re located
• Delivering new state-of-the-art Hubs that enable people to play all-year round – whether it’s a wet and dark winter night or a sunny summer’s day.
• Harnessing the “inspirational power” of the Lionesses by providing women and girls with equal access to opportunities to play.

Since 2000, the charity has awarded more than 24,809 grants to improve facilities worth more than £931M - including 1,075 artificial grass pitches, 11,621 natural grass pitches and 1,370 changing rooms. This has attracted an additional £1B of partnership funding – totaling over £1.8B investment in grassroots football so far.