Pitches in Hertfordshire to benefit from significant funding from the Football Foundation

Football pitches all across Hertfordshire are set to be enhanced thanks to £145,000 worth of investment from a new scheme set up by the Premier League, The FA and Government’s Football Foundation.

The Pitch Preparation Fund was set up in support of the game, which is currently facing unprecedented challenges because of the COVID-19 outbreak.

It is providing grants to clubs that have lost out on normal revenue streams during this difficult period and helping them to get their pitches ready for when Government advice says it is safe to play football again.

The Fund was greeted with a hugely positive response in the two-and-a-half weeks the application window was open during May.

As a result funding has been awarded to 58 clubs and organisations in Hertfordshire. This will allow 225 football pitches to be made match-fit, benefiting more than a thousand local football teams.

How Hertfordshire will benefit from the Pitch Preparation Fund:

• A total of 58 grants awarded
• £145,000 of investment
• 225 football pitches improved
• 1018 football teams benefiting
• 34 grassroots clubs awarded grants
• 24 clubs in the National League System awarded grants

The grants will help with essential maintenance works for grass pitches, including vertical decompaction, slitting, over seeding, fertilising and weedkilling, as well as routine preparatory works such as grass cutting and the setting out and line marking. For artificial surfaces, eligible works include deep cleaning, overmarking and FA pitch testing.

Hertfordshire FA CEO Karl Lingham said “This is a fantastic boost for clubs across Hertfordshire during these challenging times and will mean thousands of players in the county will benefit from better pitches to play on when it is safe for football to resume. It was great to see so many of our clubs applying to take advantage of this opportunity to improve their facilities and we’d like to thank the Football Foundation for providing it.”

Robert Sullivan, Interim Chief Executive of the Football Foundation, said: “This new investment will provide crucial support for football in Hertfordshire. Our national game is a proven driver of mental and physical health benefits, so it’s important local pitches are match-fit in the event that the Government announces it’s safe for the game to start again."

“That is why we’ve worked with the Premier League, The FA, the Government and Sport England to set up the Pitch Preparation Fund. The grants we’re announcing today will help ensure pitches across Hertfordshire are in a good condition when the time comes.”

As a result of the exposure of the Pitch Preparation Fund, the Football Foundation also received an increase of 176% in its regular facility grant applications during May, compared with April. So many more football sites will be improved over and above those receiving Pitch Preparation Fund grants.

Clubs and other organisations who are keen to improve their pitches are also being given access to a wealth of expert advice and guidance via the Football Foundation Groundskeeping Community. A free online resource the Foundation developed with The FA and the Grounds Management Association, anyone can sign up by following the link below.

Join the Online Groundskeeping Community

The Football Foundation is a charity funded by the Premier League, The FA and the Government, through Sport England.