CEO blog: "Legacy is one thing – but having a Plan is always better"

Football Foundation Chief Executive, Robert Sullivan, explains Legacy is one thing – but having a Plan is always better:

This England men's football team have delivered some fantastic moments over the last few years and this last month has been a rollercoaster ride building to tonight’s Final. The very pinnacle of elite European men’s football. At the Football Foundation however our focus is on the grassroots. No matter whether England win or lose tonight - come August – pitches need to be prepared and the grounds readied – for the millions of boys and girls, men and women who will be lacing up their boots again and getting out there to play.

There will be talk, as there always is, about the ‘legacy’ of this run to the Final. Like for our Olympians and Lionesses before them, much content and copy will be generated by those who believe a great elite moment automatically leaves a grassroots legacy, and by those who demand it from Governments or Governing Bodies. But legacy as an aspiration off the back of elite success is a strategy of hope alone. It must be aligned to a well resourced and executed plan. 

Compare and contrast - London 2012, so much spoken of generational inspiration, but a limited pull through in terms of a co-ordinated plan to deliver a genuine change in sporting participation - with the Lionesses’ Women’s EURO 2022 victory. Since that victory women’s and girls’ football has doubled in size and is projected to be larger in scale than adult male 11-aside football by 2030. That’s phenomenal growth – but it has happened because elite success coincided with a well-considered, and well-resourced plan by The FA for the women’s and girls’ game at all levels. Young girls are being provided with the places to play and the coaches to support them to ensure their Lioness inspired excitement transitions into a love of playing the game for life.

So what of this Tournament? Well, the good news is that I believe legacy is not just a hope this time either. At the Football Foundation, thanks to our partners the Premier League, The FA and the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, we have our Plans in place and ready to be accelerated. Through our Local Football Facility Plans we know exactly what every community in England needs and deserves. The new 3G pitches, new PlayZones, clubhouses or improved grass pitches required. We are investing over £100m every year into the grant funding of clubs, schools, community groups and local authorities.

Delivering community infrastructure with football and sport at its heart. The Football Foundation team works tirelessly to ensure every boy and girl, man or woman, whatever their background or ability, has a great place to play the game they love. It’s why we exist. So for every aspiring Harry or Leah, Jude or Alessia, Gareth or Sarina who watches tonight and wakes up tomorrow determined to follow in the footsteps of their heroes – their path will not be reliant on the hope of ‘legacy’ alone – but will be played out on the new and improved pitches of England. The pitches in our Plan.

Come on England.