92% of clubs cancel games due to unplayable grass

Bad weather making grass pitches unplayable during the winter months remains among the biggest threats to grassroots football in the UK.

According to fresh research, 92% of clubs experienced match cancellations due to adverse weather over the past year (2023-2024).

Conducted by football equipment retailer, Forza, the research also shows that clubs are struggling financially, with seven out of 10 clubs not feeling they have sufficient funding to support their activities.

The study was based on a survey on 186 football clubs across England – comprising more than 600 teams and 6,000 players – collected between February and March 2024. It shows that less than half (46%) of clubs rate their facilities as “good” or “very good”, with the rest (54%) describing them “average”, “below average” or “poor”.

“The significance of pitches for clubs cannot be overstated,” the report states. “However, the turbulent events of recent years have meant that funding them is getting more difficult.”