PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Football: Sportsgrounds (8 June 2020)

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what methodology the Government plans to use to assess which areas of the country would most benefit from funding in grassroots football as part of the pledge to spend £550 million revamping community football pitches.

Asked by:
Alison McGovern (Labour)

The Government is committed to supporting grassroots football. The established partnership with the Football Association and the Premier League sees a combined £70m go to new facilities delivered by the Football Foundation. All funding parties are represented on the Football Foundation board.

Government has committed to investing a further £550m into grassroots football facilities over the next 10 years to support plans to bid for the 2030 Men’s FIFA Football World Cup.

The FA has produced, in partnership with the Premier League, Sport England and DCMS, the 'National Football Facilities Strategy' (NFSS), which is a coherent overarching shared strategy for capital investment in football over the next ten years. This sets out the football facility requirements across the country and the intention to invest in 20,000 improved grass pitches and 1,000 3G facilities.

The Foundation has coverage across the whole country with funding reaching 98% of all local authorities and boroughs in England so far. As part of the NFFS, a 'Local Football Facilities Plan' is being produced for every Local Authority across the country to create a tailored local investment plan. This will help the Football Foundation prioritise its investment most efficiently and effectively.

Answered by:
Nigel Huddleston (Conservative)
12 June 2020