gloucestershire fa clubs score £53,000 in club preparation fund

Gloucestershire FA Clubs to reap from Club Preparation Funding

761 teams in Gloucestershire FA to score £53,000 of Club Preparation Funding

Football in Gloucestershire FA is given a boost with investment from the Premier League, The FA and Government’s Football Foundation.

The funding is being awarded as grants from the Football Foundation’s Club Preparation Fund.  This has been created to help clubs prepare their buildings to safely reopen in line with Government guidance around hygiene and social distancing, and The FA’s plans for a ‘phased return’ that were announced on 18 July.  

106 grants were awarded to clubs across Gloucestershire totalling £53,000. This will benefit 761 local football teams across Gloucestershire.

These Club Preparation Fund grants will go towards football sites to satisfy the extra hygiene measures that Government guidance requires.  This includes:

  • Installing hygiene facilities, such as hand sanitiser dispensers, soap dispensers, paper towel dispensers and waste bins
  • Modifications, such as safety screening, contactless payment systems and signage
  • Facility maintenance work, such as repairing hand basins and hot water provision
  • Professional inspections that may be necessary due to the prolonged period of closure resulting from the pandemic – including inspections of water quality, gas and ventilation.

Matthew Boucher, Gloucestershire FA Football Development Manager said: "‘It is fantastic to once again be able to work with the Football Foundation and award these grants to so many clubs and teams across Gloucestershire. It has been a really challenging time for all clubs and the Club Preparation fund grants will be welcome support for many.’

The investment follows the Foundation’s Pitch Preparation Fund that awarded £7m to 2,902 organizations across the country.  This is enabling over 9,000 football pitches to be made match-fit, and is benefiting more than 33,000 football teams. In Gloucestershire, 326 pitches will be made match-fit, benefiting 795 local teams.