Grassroots footballers net £500,000 in cash awards to boost sport

The Football Foundation has handed out the grants from the Premier League and The FA Facilities Fund.

The biggest award of £320,000 will pay for new changing rooms run by York Council. A further £77,000 has been awarded to Rastrick Junior Football Club, near Halifax, towards a new changing pavilion.

Other awards have gone towards smaller projects including the replacement of unsafe goalposts and netting for Hall Road Rangers in Dunswell, near Hull.

Minister for Sport Helen Grant said the grants totalling £7m nationwide would make a “huge difference to community sport up and down the country”.

Richard Scudamore, of the Premier League, said: “Our commitment to the grassroots game is unprecedented and unparalleled‎ with hundreds of millions of pounds being invested by us into the game which benefits communities across the county. Thanks to the outreach work of professional clubs, not only do the facilities help to improve the experience of grassroots football, but they also promote good health, educational opportunities and social cohesion.

“We want to encourage as many people as possible to get themselves involved in the game, and with professional clubs, schools and casual players enjoying the excellent facilities the Premier League helps fund, we will achieve that aim.”

Nick Bitel, chairman of Sport England, said: “By ensuring good quality facilities are available in local communities across the country we’re not only improving the sporting experience of existing players, we’re also helping attract new ones.”