Government publishes plans to support grassroots football

The Labour government has published its plans to support grassroots football clubs across the country and to ensure all children have access to sports at school. The announcement follows the England national team’s achievement of reaching the UEFA EURO 2024 final against Spain last month.

Plans revealed jointly by Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, and Culture Secretary, Lisa Nandy, include a pledge to support the Football Association in its ambition to double the number of gold-standard (3-star) community clubs by June 2028.

The Football Foundation will also be supported to continue its Home Advantage Programme. The scheme will support the transfer of the ownership and maintenance of grassroots football pitches directly to hundreds of clubs and community organisations, which aims to relieve the burden on local councils.

The programme will be open to cricket, rugby union and rugby league as well, spreading the benefits beyond football. The Government will work with football – including Football Foundation partners, the FA and Premier League – to develop a funding package that will support the plans.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “We are breaking down the barriers to opportunity which stops the new generation of footballers from taking to the field.”