From Derelict Ground to Community Powerhouse: Long Lane JFC, the First Club to Receive Funding From The Football Foundation

As the Football Foundation marks its 25th anniversary, we’re celebrating a quarter-of a century of grassroots transformation, starting with the very first club to benefit from our funding: Long Lane JFC.

Back in 2000, Long Lane JFC were a club with big dreams and a newly-found home. Determined to transform a derelict council plot in South London into a thriving community space, in-stepped the Football Foundation - then a newly launched partnership between the Premier League, The FA and Government - to help make this dream a reality.

With a groundbreaking £897k grant, the first ever awarded by the Foundation, Long Lane JFC got the chance to turn its ambition into action. A state-of-the-art floodlit pitch and a ten-block changing facility replaced an aging structure. In short, the club came alive. And they didn’t stop there.

Long Lane CEO, Lisa-Marie Powell told us:

The funding that we’ve received from the Football Foundation has been part of the foundations that helped us get Long Lane to where we are today so that we’re able to create a fun and safe space for all to enjoy football no matter age, race, ability, sex or heritage. Along with being able to support our local community. 

This article is dedicated to Mick Northwood who sadly passed away this year following illness. Mick was a driving force at Long Lane FC and a true grassroots football hero who was well known to many Football Foundation teammates. He will be dearly missed by all of us here at the Foundation.