The Government, The FA and the Premier League have committed to joining forces to build more state of the art 3G pitches in 150 sport hubs across 30 cities over the next five years.
Last December the Government announced that it would invest an additional £50 million into football’s grassroots over the next five years - with £8 million a year going into facilities and £2 million going into coaching.
The FA agreed to match-fund this investment with £50 million going into facilities over the next five years.
The Premier League has committed to invest in facilities as a funding priority through to at least 2019.
Greg Dyke's ‘England Commission’ proposed an overhaul of grassroots facilities in England
FA Chairman Greg Dyke welcomed the news. “We have identified grassroots facilities as a major priority for The FA, along with coaching and coach education,” he said.
“The FA, Premier League and Government already give £12 million a year to the Football Foundation for improving facilities across the country.
“It is great that our idea for hubs up and down England is being backed by both government and the Premier League, and that we are also being supported by government through our coach education strategy with a £2 million grant, which we are matching.
“That will enable us to specifically target more female, BAME and financially disadvantaged coaches from across England.”
The FA has committed £50 million to grassroots facilities over the next five years
The announcement was made by FA Chairman Greg Dyke, sports minister Helen Grant and Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore during a visit to the Evelyn Grace Academy – a school in South London that boasts a 3G facility.
The government, Premier League and FA’s investment is in addition to the £102 million funding going into the Premier League and FA Facilities fund over three years from 2014, that is administered by the Football Foundation and upgrades and builds facilities across the country.
“The government’s initiative is brilliant news for the grassroots of the game”
Richard Scudamore Premier League chief executive
The move follows FA chairman Greg Dyke’s second part of his ‘England Commission’ report last October that proposed an overhaul of grassroots facilities in England. It proposed building more 3G artificial pitches to create a new sustainable approach so that the sport is less reliant on local authority subsidies.
Speaking at the announcement, Richard Scudamore said also said the news would be beneficial to all level of the game in England.
"The government’s initiative is brilliant news for the grassroots of the game and we will work with them as a committed partner to ensure that the scheme is implemented as rapidly as possible.
"The clubs, when meeting yesterday, identified grassroots facilities as one of their five key strategic priorities, with detailed funding commitments to be announced towards the end of the year.”
