Grass Pitches
The grass can be greener on your side
Around 87% of affiliated football is played on grass pitches but players cite poor quality grass pitches as the number one issue effecting the grassroots game and unfortunately a number of matches are cancelled due to poor pitch quality. The FA in partnership with the Premier League and the Football Foundation are revolutionising the state of grassroots football pitches across England to ensure that by 2030, grassroots football has 20,000 ‘good’ quality pitches to enjoy.
To help realise this ambition, the Football Foundation have developed a web app called PitchPower which gives the football community the ability to carry out their own grass pitch inspections in an easy and digital way. A few short weeks after you complete your inspection, you’ll receive a bespoke report for each of your pitches containing a Pitch Quality Standard rating and extensive guidance on what you need to do to improve your pitch. You’re also now able to apply for all of the Football Foundation grass pitch improvement funds.
If you need support with your first PitchPower inspection, you can request a PitchPower Mentor to come out and show you what to do.
How to undertake a PitchPower assessment
Follow the step by step guide below to get set up on PitchPower and undertake your first assessment.
Once you have completed your assessment for each pitch, you should receive your report from the Grounds Management Association within 21 days (this may be longer if the GMA are dealing with lots of applications at the same time).
Your report will include a Performance Quality Standard rating of either Poor, Basic, Good or Advanced. You will be able to access Grass Pitch Maintenance Funding based on this rating. The report will guide you on what you need to do to each pitch and advice on equipment and maintenance you may need to invest in.
How to apply for grass pitch maintenance funding
The Grass Pitch Maintenance Fund provides applicants with up to £12,800 per pitch over six years to help site owners and site users enhance their pitches. No lease or licence is required. More details on the Grass Pitch Maintenance Fund are available here. Follow the step by step guide below for how to apply. You will need a PitchPower report for the site and if a football club is to be the applicant, it will need to be submitted by the Chair, Treasurer or Secretary of the club.
The funding can be spent on the following:
- Contractor works e.g. slitting, scarification or decompaction
- Purchasing materials e.g. seed or fertiliser
- Purchasing equipment e.g. Soil Sampler
You can also use the same process to apply for the Grass Pitch Machinery Fund. You can apply for up to £50,000 however the total grant cannot exceed 75% of the total project cost. Again you will need your PitchPower report ID with recommendations in the report for the items you would like funding for.