Grassroots football clubs get new funding in Bucks, Beds and Herts
Robbie Blood, a coach for Chalfont Saints in Buckinghamshire, told us how much a difference the funding will make
Local clubs are welcoming government and FA's investment in grassroots football.
It comes as a wave of investment has been announced, from the FA, Premier League, and central government to support grassroots football.
It stems from the Conservative Party's manifesto commitment to invest further in grassroots football. As a result, the Football Foundation has received its largest-ever budget, to improving football facilities.
Projects include the development of full-size, floodlit 3G pitches that cater to the training and match play needs of players across different age groups and abilities.
Investments in grass pitches have also been made to address maintenance challenges caused by weather conditions, ultimately improving the quality and capacity of these grass fields.
In addition to pitch improvements, investments have been made in upgrading changing rooms and pavilions, providing essential facilities for both adult and youth football, including spaces for socializing and serving refreshments during matches.
Robbie Blood is a coach for Chalfont Saints in Buckinghamshire, and told us how much a difference the funding will make: "Absolutely fantastic and really beneficial in terms of the long term strategy to improve playing surfaces. If you play on better pitches the players perform better and improve their skills more quickly".
Moving forward, Robbie also told us what he's like to see: "I think if more of the money from the pyramid trickled down to grassroots we would be better prepared for the weather, and there needs to be a solution to make sure grassroots clubs can own their own land".