retain and grow the game

Football participation in Somerset bolstered thanks to funding from The FA

New figures show that football in Somerset is set to receive a significant boost over the next 12 months

New investment provided by The FA, and delivered by the Football Foundation, has been announced that will support the growth and maintenance of 71 teams in the area which is expected to cater for 1,550 footballers in local leagues.

Grow the Game, which was first launched back in 2010, offers grants of £1,500 towards community football clubs wishing to establish new teams and this year focused on catering for female and disabled players.

Retain the Game is a brand-new scheme, which was launched in April of this year, and is targeted at supporting existing adult male clubs to continue offering local opportunities to play. Grants of £750 are made to support the essential costs of playing and training.  

A large number of clubs in Somerset have been successful in securing investment from The FA through the Football Foundation. Over the course of the next year, Grow the Game will support the growth of 10 female and two disabled teams respectively, while Retain the Game will help to maintain 59 adult male sides in Somerset.

Funding from both grants can be used to help a club pay for FA coaching courses; FA league affiliation costs; referees’ fees; first aid kits; and even football kit and equipment through a bespoke voucher.

We have further added to this funding as a County FA with our own pots for male teams (youth and adult) as well as youth and mini soccer teams. 

Across the two FA?Football Foundation campaigns, The FA has made £2.5 million available to grassroots clubs looking to either create or retain association football clubs for grassroots footballers across the country.
 
As well as Grow the Game and Retain the Game, the Football Foundation delivers the Premier League & The FA Facilities Fund on behalf of the Premier League, The FA and the Government, through Sport England. Since 2000, the Foundation has supported over 16,000 community projects worth more than £1.5bn. 
 
In Somerset, the Football Foundation’s Funding Partner investment has helped to support the development of:
13 third generation artificial grass pitches
55 real grass pitches
28 changing pavilions