163 pitches in East Riding to benefit from £101,010 of Pitch Preparation Funding

Football pitches across East Riding are set to be enhanced thanks to £101,010 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 it is safe to play football again, following Government advice.

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, £101,010 has been awarded to 34 clubs and organisations. This will allow 163 football pitches to be made match-fit, benefiting 304 local football teams.

How East Riding will benefit from the Pitch Preparation Fund in numbers:

• £101,010 of investment
• 163 football pitches improved
• 304 football teams benefiting
• 28 grassroots clubs awarded grants
• 6 clubs in the National League System awarded grants

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.

Rachel Sullivan, Football Development Manager at East Riding FA, said:

The grants awarded will help with essential maintenance works toward 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 of pitches.  For artificial surfaces, eligible works include deep cleaning, overmarking and FA pitch testing.

Clubs and other organisations are also being given access to the Football Foundation Groundskeeping Community.  This is a free online resource the Foundation developed with The FA and the Grounds Management Association, containing advice and guidance.  Anyone in East Riding can sign up at https://thefa.hivelearning.com/groundskeeping.

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

If you missed out on the Pitch Preparation Fund and would like to investigate other funding opportunities available, please click here.