Grass Pitch Improvement

Power up your grass pitch

The need for this service is more relevant now than ever, given the current economic times and the pressures facing grassroots football.

The FA Facilities & Investment Team have been working in partnership with the Grounds Management Association (GMA) to develop a Grass Pitch Improvement and Maintenance Programme that can be utilised by grassroots football clubs, organisations and local authorities with the aim of improving the quality of grass pitches.

The key principles behind the service are to provide members of the programme with advice/practical solutions via a Grass Pitch Assessment Report which also identifies the key enhanced maintenance works required along with machinery requirements.

In Durham County FA we will be working with the North’s GMA Regional Pitch Advisor, Chris Hunter and a local support network to provide visits to grass pitch sites across the county.

We strongly recommend our club volunteers utilise the GMA Resources and explore more about their training courses on the website which you can access by clicking here.

FA PIP - APPROVED PRODUCTS - RIGBY TAYLOR

FA DATA SHEETS - NATURAL TURF PITCHES

Get in touch

Daniel McElhone

(Facilities & Investment Officer)

T: 0191 3872928 (Option 3)

E: daniel.mcelhone@durhamfa.com

Game-changing opportunity

If a site is categorised as 'Poor' or 'Basic' they are then eligible to apply for grass pitch funding through the Football Foundation.

This is a game-changing opportunity and for the first time ever, sites can get access to the funding they need in order to improve their pitches. It opens up the opportunity for sites to invest in enhanced maintenance services, funded at 66% of the total cost and/or machinery grants at 75%.

If you believe your site would benefit in becoming part of the FA Grass Pitch Improvement Programme, you can use the Football Foundation's PitchPower App to carry out your own pitch inspections, and then receive a detailed assessment report from the Grounds Management Association.

grass pitch maintenance fund

A Six Year grant to help clubs enhance or sustain the quality of their grass pitches

The fund is a key part of the Football Foundation's Power Up Your Grass Pitch campaign - an ambition to deliver 20,000 quality grass pitches by 2030.

Who is Eligible?

All applicants must have the required security of tenure (or a signed agreement by the landowner) and have received a PitchPower Pitch Assessment Report.

• Grassroots clubs
• Leagues
• Charities
• Education sites
• National League System Clubs Step 1-6 (only for pitches at the site that are used for community football)

What can the grant be spent on?

The funding provided must be used to carry out the recommendations from your PitchPower Assessment Report. These can include:

- Slitting – contractor works
- Scarification – contractor works
- Decompaction – contractor works
- Selective herbicide (weed treatment) – contractor works
- Fertiliser – contractor works and/or purchase of materials (fertiliser)
- Overseeding – contractor works and/or purchase of materials (seed)
- Top dressing – contractor works and/or purchase of materials (topsoil)
- Soil Sampler – purchase of a soil sampler

Next Steps to accessing GPM

1.Signup to PitchPower (web-based inspection app)

2.Complete your pitch assessments and submit your inspections.

3.Wait for your PitchPower report to be completed by the Grounds Management Association.

4.Apply for your grant using the Football Foundation’s Grant Application Manager portal.

5.Time to invest in your grass pitches!