The Grounds and Natural Turf Improvement Programme – funded by national governing bodies of sports including The FA, Sport England and The Institute of Groundsmanship (IOG) - will raise the standards of sports surfaces as well as the understanding of sports turf management practices among the army of volunteer groundsmen and women who look after these pitches.
Kelly Simmons, director of National Game and Women's Football at The FA,said of the initiative: "The FA is pleased to be part of the Programme which will help deliver and support the targets in the National Game Strategy.
Kelly Simmons said the initiative will provide more opportunities for people to play the game
“It will help deliver against the key aims of growing the game, the retention and development of players and raising standards.
“The quality of natural turf pitches is key if we are to continue improving and attracting more people to play and enjoy participating in football.
“The network of regional pitch advisors will enable football to offer support, guidance and training to affiliated clubs and leagues to ensure that they have all the resources and information required to enable players to play on the best pitches possible.
“The Programme will also inform how we can best direct our investment and ensure that we provide value for money.”
The FA join the England and Wales Cricket Board and the Rugby Football League as co-funders for the programme – which will run for an initial three-year period.
It will build on the established success of the IOG/ECB-funded regional advisor network – and will be headed by national manager Jason Booth, formerly head groundsman at Leeds Rugby.
Jason will lead a team of eight turf care expert regional pitch advisers and work will get under way in April.
The regional pitch advisers will liaise with the national governing bodies and will report directly to him.
Jason Booth will lead the programme
They will provide support services, training and education to grassroots clubs and sites, while also managing the development of pitch performance standards through reporting and advising on grounds improvements.
As a result, grassroots sports clubs will be able to access expert turf care advice, training and technical knowledge as well as guidance on coping with flood damage.
Charles Johnston, Sport England property director, added: “Good quality grass pitches are important for helping people get out and play sport.
“We recognise the real value and importance of the volunteer groundsman in maintaining and delivering quality pitches every week and are very pleased to support this new network of Regional Pitch Advisers who will provide the necessary support and guidance the voluntary groundsmen deserve.”
