The Football Foundation celebrates 25 years of game changing impact thanks to Premier League, The FA and Government funding

• Richard Masters, CEO of the Premier League, Mark Bullingham, CEO of The FA, Simon Hayes, CEO of Sport England were in attendance with former Lioness legend Fara Williams and former Premier League star Anton Ferdinand at a celebratory event in South London.
• Thanks to the ongoing support of funding partners, the Foundation has invested nearly £1.3 billion so far towards achieving its goal of delivering the grassroots sports facilities that every community in England needs and deserves.

• Burgess Park Sports Centre, one of the latest sports facilities to benefit from the support of the Football Foundation’s funding partners, hosted the occasion.

   

Fara Williams, Anton Ferdinand and Trustees from the Football Foundation’s funding partners, Richard Masters (Premier League), Mark Bullingham (The FA), and Sport England CEO Simon Hayes, came together to celebrate 25 years of the Football Foundation driving grassroots impact.

The Premier League, The FA and Government’s Football Foundation marked the milestone  at Burgess Park Sports Centre which opened in June this year thanks to a £2.4 million grant from the Football Foundation.

The unique partnership between the Premier League, The FA and Government formed at the turn of the century with the goal of providing grassroots facility improvements for all, regardless of gender, race, disability or place.

The Foundation has made a significant impact across the country since 2000, funding 1,300 3G football turf pitches, 15,000 grass pitches and 1,700 changing rooms, inspiring healthier lives and strengthening communities every day.

As well as looking back on the Foundation’s work to date, the event at Burgess Park offered an opportunity to look ahead. With the exponential growth of the game, particularly among women and girls, the Football Foundation’s mission continues via its ‘Game Changing’ 5-year plan officially launched today.

At the core of this new strategy are the Foundation’s Local Football Facility Plans, which have been developed in partnership with local authorities, County FAs and other community stakeholders. These Plans are a blueprint for providing the grassroots football facility improvements that will deliver where need is greatest and impact is strongest, creating inclusive opportunities for generations to come. 

Sports Minister Stephanie Peacock MP, commented:

"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 first-hand 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!"

Simon Hayes, CEO of Sport England 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.

"Together, we’ve helped create thousands of high-quality facilities that have given millions of people the chance to be physically active, healthy and connected through sport. 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.”

The Football Foundation’s ‘Game Changing’ 5-year plan will deliver 5 ‘game changers’ which are:

• Focusing on building new, and improving 3G pitches
• Delivering 3G projects identified by our Local Football Facility Plans in areas of high priority (Sport England’s Place Partnership areas)
• Meeting the growing needs of the Women’s and Girls’ game
• Funding sustainable facilities that support community clubs

• Knowing all Football Foundation pitches and support them to achieve the intended impact.

   

Former 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.”