Since 2001, The FA, along with its funding partners, the Premier League and Sport England, has been able to invest substantial sums into the National Game through The Football Foundation.
The Football Foundation is a charity dedicated to improving the facilities infrastructure across grassroots football. Since its commencement, it has delivered over £780m of facility improvements across 1600 projects. The scope of those developed range from modest repairs and improvements through to multi-million pound projects.
The work of the Football Foundation has had a significant and positive impact on the facilities landscape in England. Many clubs will have directly or indirectly benefited from these investments. However, such is the scale of football, that there is still a huge amount to do to create a good quality, sustainable network of facilities capable of supporting existing as well as future participants.
If you are looking to improve your football facilities - which could involve refurbishing and improving changing rooms, natural grass pitch improvements and 3G Football Turf Pitch development - the first step in the process is to contact your local County FA and complete the new Football Facility Enquiry Form (FFEF) to register your project.
The FA register for artificial grass pitches
The emergence of artificial grass pitches (AGPs) and in particular 3G football turf pitches (FTPs) has impacted significantly on the way football is played and delivered throughout the country. FTPs offer a quality playing surface throughout the year, allowing for increased opportunities for training and match competition at all levels and ages. In a wider context and when delivered against a strategic setting such as a school site, they enhance curricular activity and provide quality playing opportunities for the wider community.
Artificial pitches
The FA has changed the standard code of rules regarding the use of FTPs that will now allow more clubs and teams to use these types of pitches. The rules became effective from the 2014/15 season and provided an FTP has been tested and appears on The FA Register it will be allowed to be used for affiliated match play in all competitions outside the National League System (NLS) i.e. Step 7 and below including women’s and youth football.
For more information please contact facilitiesinfo@thefa.com
Safety of third Generation Artificial Grass Pitches:
The FA adheres to the latest independent evidence that indicates that 3G pitches in the UK, which are built to industry-standard specifications, are safe.
From time-to-time, concerns are raised in the media as to the safety or environmental risks associated with these pitches and their constituent parts, commonly crumb rubber.
The numerous scientific studies conducted by government agencies around the world - and undertaken by independent experts - have all validated the human health and environmental safety of 3G pitches and crumb rubber.
Third generation artificial turf is recognised as a durable, safe, year-round playing surface, able to withstand regular use and all kinds of weather.
It enables significant increases in sports participation, ensuring far more individuals and communities benefit from all of the associated social and health benefits of physical activity.
