Grass Pitch Maintenance Fund - Grants available for Football Clubs

The Grass Pitch maintenance fund provided by the football foundation provides eligible organisations with a tapered 6-year grand to assist them in sustaining already 'good' level pitches, or to assist with enhancing basic or poor pitches. The campaign is the Football Foundations Power up your Grass Pitch campaign, with an aim to deliver 20,000 great quality grass pitches by 2030.

(Tapered means that the Football Foundation will pay a reduced percentage of the initial grant value every two years with the club making up the difference. For example, the grant awarded for an 11v11 pitch that needs enhancing would be £3200 in year 1 and 2, £2133 in year 3 and 4 and £1067 in year 5 and 6).

Who's eligible?
All applicants must have the required security of tenure, which is either owning the freehold, having a 10-year lease or longer, or a service level agreement with the site lasting 10 years. Applicants will also need to complete a PitchPower inspection within the last 12 months for all their pithces and have recieved a PitchPower Pitch Assessment Report, before they can apply. The Chair, Vice-Chair, Secratary or Treasurer of the club are the only ones that can submit an application form.

-Grassroots Football Clubs
-Leagues
-Charities
-Education Sites offering community usage on evenings and weekends
-Town and Parish Councils that host grassroots footall clubs on council-owned sites
-National League System (Steps 1-6) and Women's Football Pyramid (Tiers 1-4) Clubs (only for non-stadia pitches at the site that is used for community football).

Who's not eligible?
-Local Authorities
-An individual or sole trader
-A commercial/for-profit entity


ENHANCE - For pitches with Performance Quality Standard of 'basic' or below.
-11 v 11 Pitch Size - £3,200 Per Pitch
-9 v 9 Pitch Size - £2,560 Per Pitch
-Mini Soccer Pitch Size (7v7 or 5x5) - £1,920 Per Pitch

SUSTAIN - For pitches with a Performance Quality Standard of 'good' or higher.
-11 v 11 - £960 Per Pitch
-9 v 9 - £640 Per Pitch
-Mini Soccer Pitch Size (7v7 or 5x5) - £384 Per Pitch

For the most up-to-date details on the grant please visit the Football Foundation Website. Their typical process usually involves the following steps:

1. Completing a PitchPower inspection report.
2. Recieve multiple quotes from different suppliers having demonstrations if required
3. Applying for the grant
4. Paying the club's share of the final invoice
5. Recieving funds from the FA
6. Paying the final balance of the machine
7. Recieving your new mower.

•Applicants will need to complete a PitchPower inspection for all their pitches that will be improved using the machinery/equipment before they can apply for the Football Foundation Grant.

•Applicants will also be required to evidence that users of the machinery have a good understanding of how to use it safely and how to get the best use from it. The Foundation therefore requires a minimum of two members of the organisation to complete the Grounds Management Association (GMA)’s online Level 1 Football Grounds Maintenance course. This short course from the Grounds Management Association costs £42 and the certificate of completion will need to be submitted to the Foundation prior to the release of any grant. You can register here.

•If successful with your application the Football Foundation expect your equipment to be covered by suitable insurance and securely stored when not in use. It should be maintained in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations and they request that it’s only used by suitably trained operators.

•Pre-owned machinery can be considered providing two like-for-like quotes are provided and it's purchased from a reputable dealer and comes with a minimum 12-month warranty.


How much can we get?
The Foundation will award a maximum grant of £50,000 that doesn't exceed 75% of the total project costs. Where a grant of over £50,000 or 75% of total project costs is required, the applicant should contact their County FA

Disclaimer: The details on this blog may be changed by the Football Foundation at any time so keep an eye on their website.