Opening Publicity

As you'll see on the template, you just need to edit the parts in yellow to ensure that it is relevant to your organisation and funding received.

Once this is done you will need to email to your local County FA so they can add a quote before sending it on to local media. To compile a media list, you need to do a simple google search “local newspaper contacts in *insert county/city*”

This will return the Contact Us web pages of numerous outlets. For example, you can see the results when searching “local media contacts in Hampshire” here. 

Collate the Newsdesk and Editor contact details for outlets in your area and then email the press release to these contacts.

We would also recommend taking some high resolution (i.e. good enough quality and size to be used for print media) photos of your current facilities and your opening ceremony (if you've had one) to send with the press release and then use on social media. Be sure to take a variety of shots capturing the facilities as they will help highlight the impact the investment is going to make (e.g. people playing on them, floodlights etc).

Below is some recommended wording to use in your covering email when sending the press release out to local media contacts.

Hello,

I am sure you will be interested to know about the Football Foundation funding *insert club/organisation* has received to *insert project details*.

Attached is a press release with more information about this and some high res photos of our current facilities.

Please feel free to get in touch with *insert name, position at club/organisation and telephone number/email* if you would like to know anything else about the project.

Please could you also send through any links to stories published online if you do cover this story.

Kind regards

Once you've downloaded the social media assets above, attach the graphic to your post and add some supporting text. Take a picture/video of your new facility (preferably with the Football Foundation signage in the background) to post alongside the copy too. 

We’ve given you some example posts below but feel free to put your own spin on it. 

Facebook:

Our new facility is officially open! Huge thanks to the @premierleague, The FA and @DCMS’s @FootballFoundation for helping to make our dream a reality. 

Now the local community have the great place to play.

Twitter: 

1.

Our new facility is officially open!

Huge thanks to the @premierleague, @FA and @DCMS’s @footballfoundtn for helping to make our dream a reality. 

Now the local community have the great place to play.

2.

Today's the day!

Our improved @footballfoundtn-funded facility is now officially open.

A massive thank you to the @premierleague, @FA and @DCMS for providing the funding to make this happen.

Instagram:

Our new facility is officially open! Huge thanks to the @premierleague, The FA and @dcmsgovuk’s @FootballFoundation for helping to make our dream a reality. 

Now the local community have the great place to play.

You can find the contact details of your local MP’s office by clicking on this link and typing in your relevant post code. 

You can find the contact details of your local Councillors by clicking on this link and typing in your relevant post code. 

If you live in London or in one of England’s nine Combined Authorities, you can find the contact details of your local Metro Mayor on this link.