Clubs in Somerset are now able to access funding from either The FA or Somerset FA for creation of new teams in their clubs.

The FA’s Grow the Game grants are available for new female and disability teams, and Somerset FA’s own funding pots are available to adult/youth male teams and Mini Soccer Teams. 

Grow the Game, which is delivered by the Football Foundation and funded by The FA, was first launched in 2010 to provide clubs with funding for the creation of new teams and chances for aspiring footballers in the local community to play. Since launching, the scheme has helped to create over 11,000 new teams, delivering new playing opportunities to an estimated 144,000 community footballers.

The scheme will provide an investment of £1.5m to traditionally underrepresented groups in community football and give further playing opportunities in new disability, women’s and girls’ teams in the process. 

Grow the Game grants of £1,500 will be made available to every new team created, helping to relieve the financial burden on clubs by helping towards FA coaching courses, league affiliation costs, referees’ fees, first aid kits or even kit and equipment. In 2018, the scheme helped to support the growth of 872 female and 294 disability teams respectively.

The application window for Grow the Game is now open and closes on Thursday 28 March. Clubs seeking more information on the scheme should contact Brendan Dix at Somerset FA on Brendan.Dix@somersetfa.com or visit the Football Foundation website. 

Later in the year, existing male adult clubs & teams will also be able to apply for financial support from The FA, with the return of the retention-based scheme called Retain the Game. The scheme, which launched for the first time last year, helped to support over 2,300 male teams, with grants given to help provide financial support for clubs across the country. The scheme will launch again on Wednesday 17 April.