Grants are available for football clubs and organisations in England and Wales to get their natural and artificial grass pitches ready for when the Government’s coronavirus/COVID-19 advice allows football to start being played again. A total of £9.56 million will be awarded in grants.
Eligible clubs can apply for the following amounts:National League System clubs (Step 1 to 6): grants of up to £1,500 for stadium pitch.
FA Women’s Pyramid clubs (Tier 1 to 5): grants of up to £1,500 for stadium pitch.
Welsh Cymru Premier League clubs: grants of up to £1,500 for stadium pitch.
Eligible affiliated grass-roots clubs and organisations (including step 7) that maintain:
- One full-size pitch (or equivalent) can apply for grants of up to £1,500.
- Two to three full-size pitches (or equivalent) can apply for grants of up to £2,500.
- Four or more full-size pitches (or equivalent) can apply for grants of up to £5,000.
- A full-size equivalent pitch includes all 11v11 and 9v9 pitches. A mini soccer pitch counts as 0.5 pitches.
Applications can be submitted until 9pm on 25 May 2020.
The funding is for covering the costs of:
- Aeration.
- Chain harrowing.
- Consumable materials.
- Fertilising.
- Flail mowing.
- Grass cutting.
- Line marking.
- Over seeding.
- Turfing.
- Weed killing.
- Vertical decompaction.
For 3G pitches the funding can also be used for:
- Deep cleaning.
- FA pitch testing.
- Maintenance.
Any work that has been completed since the FA suspended football on 16 March 2020 is eligible to be funded.
Applications are to be submitted through the Football Foundation’s application portal which can be accessed on the Football Foundation’s website https://footballfoundation.org.uk/grant/pitch-preparation-fund.
Contact the Football Foundation for further information using 0345 345 4555
or enquiries@footballfoundation.org.uk.
