25 Years On: The Football Foundation, Premier League and the FA Celebrate Legacy of Grassroots Impact
The Football Foundation, Premier League and the FA came together to celebrate twenty-five years of driving grassroots impact across football at an event in south London.
Featuring past stars such as Fara Williams and Anton Ferdinand, the event aimed to shine a spotlight on the work done to provide grassroots facility improvements for all, regardless of gender, race, disability or place.
Burgess Park was the latest sports centre opened by the government-founded Football Foundation in June of this year, thanks to a £2.4m grant.
The Football Foundation is the Premier League, The FA and the government’s charity that delivers grassroots facilities to local communities across England.
The organisation has made a significant impact across the country since its foundation in 2000, funding over 16,000 3G and grass pitches and dressing rooms, strengthening and inspiring healthier lives in local communities.
The foundation has invested nearly £1.3 billion so far in delivering the grassroots sports facilities that every community in England needs and deserves.
The event at Burgess Park also offered an opportunity to look ahead for the organisation and the need to provide access to everyone.
Further investment in the community has propelled an additional £1.5 billion of partnership funding so far, with a total of £2.8 billion being pumped into grassroots football.
75,000 grants were awarded across every constituency in England over the two decades, with 88,000 teams supported.
1,700 dressing rooms were delivered or improved- enough for every Premier League and Barclays Women’s Super League (WSL) player.
Additionally, 1,000- 15,000 3G and grass pitches were improved or delivered, with the distance from London to Manchester enough to host every Premier League and WSL game ever played simultaneously.
The unique partnership formed between the Premier League, the FA and the government at the turn of the century has transformed the grassroots football landscape, setting a benchmark for collaboration, ensuring that football remains accessible, inclusive, and thriving at every level across England.
Mark Bullingham, the Chief Executive of the FA shared his thoughts about this new milestone:
“Our 25-year partnership with the Football Foundation is a remarkable milestone that highlights our shared commitment to grassroots football.”
“The Football Foundation has built, transformed and revitalised thousands of grassroots facilities across the country. These facilities have helped to strengthen communities, promote health and wellbeing, and inspire millions to take part in our national game. Investment into local facilities has never been more important, and we look forward to working with our partners to ensure our grassroots game continues to thrive over the years to come.”
Minister for Sport, Tourism and Youth, Sephanie Peacock, added:
“Over the last 25 years, the Football Foundation has put more than £1 billion into grassroots sport up and down the country.”
“I've seen that firsthand in the area that I represent in Barnsley, but also in a number of visits I’ve done over the last year or so as Sports Minister. "It’s helped transform access to sport - and in particular to women’s sport. Here’s to the next 25 years!”
Sport England CEO, Simon Hayes, commented:
“For 25 years, the Football Foundation has been a driving force in transforming community sport across England. At Sport England, we’re incredibly proud to stand alongside the Foundation, the Government, the Premier League and The FA in this unique partnership that’s actively and positively changing the sporting landscape of our country.”
“As we look ahead to the next chapter, we’re excited to keep building on this shared success and ensuring that everyone, wherever they live and whatever their background, can enjoy the opportunities and benefits that great community sport provides.”
Changing sport for the better?
The event at Burgess Park also offered the opportunity to look beyond the game and its potential future.
With the women’s game growing exponentially over the last few years, the Football Foundation unveiled its new ‘Game Changing Plan’, a five-year initiative aimed at increasing participation among women and girls in local communities.
The strategy will seek to build, improve and deliver 3G pitches and projects across the country, meeting the growing needs of the women’s game and funding sustainable facilities that support community clubs in areas of high priority.
The foundation and the FA also revealed their Local Football Facility Plans, developed in partnership with local authorities, County FAs and other community stakeholders. These plans will provide a blueprint for delivering grassroots football facilities to communities, ensuring that everyone will have equal access to the support and resources they need.
Richard Masters, CEO of the Premier League, said:
“We are proud to have co-founded the development of grassroots facilities through the Football Foundation since it formed 25 years ago, enabling millions of people to lead more active lives.”
“The new development at Burgess Park is a great example of the many sites that have been improved through Football Foundation investment. Its positive impact on the local community will be felt for years to come.”
“It is thanks to the ongoing success and growth of English football that we can continue to deliver vital funds into the Football Foundation, in partnership with The FA and the Government.”
Ex- Premier League star Anton Ferdinand said:
“I’ve seen first-hand the impact of Football Foundation-supported facilities in South London and the country more widely and am delighted to be here to celebrate 25 years of investment into the game I love.”
“These young people are so lucky to have such brilliant facilities, a luxury not all of us have had! I’m excited to see the impact of facilities like this in shaping the next generation of players at all levels.”
Former Lioness star Fara Williams, a Football Foundation Supporter, spoke of her pride in advocating for the Foundation’s goals:
“The growth of the women’s and girls’ game in recent years has been incredible, but we know it starts with giving girls the same opportunities to play as boys.”
“The Football Foundation is making that possible by creating safe, welcoming places where dreams can begin, like here in South London, where I grew up. I’m proud to play a part in helping the next generation of girls fall in love with football just like I did.”
For more information on the foundation and the Plans for your local area, visit: footballfoundation.org.uk.
For the Foundation’s 5-year strategy, head here: https://footballfoundation.org.uk/strategy/game-changing