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NEW FUNDING PUTS
SPOTLIGHT ON GRASSROOTS CLUBS |
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Clubs from Step Six of the National League
System and below have seen the light this month with the introduction of
The Football Association's new Grant Aid Scheme, offering extended
finances to put towards floodlighting and changing facilities for
lower-level teams.
In a potentially huge scheme for the grassroots game, the new idea will
provide opportunities for clubs to move up the national football pyramid,
as well as helping the smaller clubs provide high-quality, modern changing
facilities for their players. Adult football has received the extra focus
on this occasion due to the perception the area is neglected in favour of
more fashionable types of the sport.
Essex County F.A. County Development Manager, Nick Perchard, explained:
"I often get asked why adult football is under-resourced by funders
so hopefully this is the first step towards reinforcing that adult 11 v 11
football is, and will always be, a key part of the game. One of the prime
points coming out of The F.A.'s consultation work over the past eighteen
months is that adult football feels it has been forgotten. It's clear that
significant resource has gone into other areas of the game which are now
thriving."
Now steps are being taken to arrest the slide in numbers of adult
footballers taking to the field each week, with clubs able to seek
assistance in re-furbishing their facilities to make them more
user-friendly. Nick added: "This fund is the first step in providing
additional resources to ensure adults don't have to get changed in cold,
damp, 1950's buildings and aren't forced to go home caked in mud because
there aren't showers available!"
Money allocated through grants from another source of funding, the
Football Foundation, is also expected to increase due to sizeable
television deals being signed by both the Premier League and The F.A. of
late, which Nick believes can only be good for the sport in its base form:
"Adult 11 v 11 football is decreasing and it's this trend that The
F.A. are now working hard to reverse. Floodlights have also been
prioritised because this is normally the main stumbling block for clubs
wishing to progress through the national pyramid. We mustn't forget that
football is primarily a leisure activity competing against the huge
variety of other opportunities available. If we don't help to provide a
high-quality experience from start to finish then players will continue to
leave the sport."
Grants of up to £10,000 can be applied for by clubs with and open
membership policy. The F.A. National Sports Centre Trust set-up the fund
to assist clubs both inside and out of the National League System and
County F.A.'s and Leagues will be consulted to assist with each
application. Interest can be registered by E-Mail to Mike Appleby at mike.appleby@thefa.com.
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