Priti welcomes £28K for local football pitches
Witham MP Priti Patel has welcomed the announcement that nine football clubs across the Witham constituency will be receiving £28,000 in grants from the Pitch Preparation Fund. The money will help get 47 pitches ready for football being played again and support a total of 110 teams. The Fund, which was set up by the Football Foundation, Premier League, the FA and Sport England has distributed £7 million across the country and last month Priti wrote to clubs in Witham to encourage them to apply.
Priti said: “This is a fantastic result for football clubs across my constituency, who will be able to use this money to get their pitches match-fit. Football clubs are an important part of our communities and it is good to see them getting help at this time. We have all been missing our national game during the coronavirus pandemic and, with the Premier League restarting, our local clubs will be wanting to get playing again, as soon as they can, in a safe way.”
James Kendall, Director of Football Development at the FA, added:
“It’s fantastic that clubs in Witham have benefited from the Pitch Preparation Fund to this extent. The FA, alongside funding partners the Premier League and Sport England, recognise the important role that grassroots clubs will make as the country emerges from lockdown. This fund, which has been brilliantly coordinated and distributed by the Football Foundation, will help them to be ready for that moment. Many thanks to Priti Patel for encouraging local clubs to apply and also for recognising the critical work they do in her constituency.”
Data on grants provided by the FA/Football Foundation:
Further information on the Pitch Preparation Fund: https://footballfoundation.org.uk/news/nearly-3000-clubs-across-the-country-benefit-from-pitch-preparation-fund