'Grow the Game' and 'Retain the Game' provides funding for projects that use football to increase participation by both players and volunteers.
This is done by supporting the costs associated with providing new activities. Grow the Game is an extremely popular scheme and the assessment process is competitive, therefore The Football Foundation strongly recommend that before making an application you contact the County FA Football Development Team to discuss your project.

This year’s Grow the Game & Retain the Game application window is currently closed.

For further information visit https://www.footballfoundation.org.uk/funding-schemes/grow-the-game/ or https://www.footballfoundation.org.uk/funding-schemes/retain-the-game/ 

• Support the growth of football clubs and activity.
• Prevent a decline in football participation.
• Make improvements to facilities to address any health and safety issues such as unsafe goalposts, maintenance equipment or fencing.

'Premier League & FA Facilities Fund' has replaced the previous Football Foundation Grass Roots Facilities Fund and Build the Game Scheme.

The Fund will be managed by the Football Foundation and will be open to football clubs, schools, councils and local sports associations, to support the development of new or refurbished local football facilities.

For full details on the fund, click here.

All projects will be required to complete a Football Facility Enquiry Form (FEF) in the first instance.

The Football Stadia Improvement Fund (FSIF) provides money for Clubs in the Football League and the National League System down to Step 7 who want to improve their facilities.

Grants are available to all member clubs of the Football League and National League System pyramid. Current grant ceilings are:

• Clubs in Step 1 - £400,000
• Clubs in Steps 2, 3 and 4 - £150,000
• Clubs in Steps 5 and 6 - £100,000
• Clubs in Step 7 - £20,000 (but up to £50,000 for applications including changing rooms)

The percentage level of support will be decided on merit. Clubs are eligible for the appropriate grant ceiling level of funding relative to their league status. The grant ceiling applies to the step the application is playing at when submitting a grant request, regardless of subsequent relegation or promotion.

Northumberland FA Support Process

• We will then arrange to visit the site and coordinate a meeting with your league and FSIF Regional Technical Adviser.

For more information visit the Football Stadia Improvement Fund Website – www.fsif.co.uk

Northumberland County FA is working in partnership with The FA and Institute of Groundmanship (IOG) to deliver a Pitch Improvement Programme (PIP). The IOG Regional Pitch Advisor will undertake site assessments and offer expert advice to football clubs and facility providers in order to help improve the quality of football pitches across the region. Recommendations made by the Regional Pitch Advisor will be tailored to the budget, expertise and equipment available each venue.

The key principles behind the programme are:

• Expert Advice - site assessments and a tailored report including pitch maintenance recommendations.
• Education - access to support workshops and qualifications.
• Discounts - savings on machinery and consumables offered via our official suppliers.
• Funding - the potential to access FA funding for pitch improvement.

To qualify for the Pitch Improvement Programme the applicant will need to own/lease the venue or be responsible for maintenance of the grass pitches.

Programme Process

1. Submit an Expression of Interest form.
2. Northumberland County FA will then agree with you a date for the initial PIP visit.
3. The initial PIP visit is made and a report is produced by the Regional Pitch Advisor.
4. The applicant will receive the report which includes pitch maintenance recommendations to follow.
   The Club should also be committed to undertaking recommendations contained within the PIP report.
5. At agreed milestones the club should provide a brief update around work undertaken.
6. 12 months after the initial PIP visit a follow-up visit will be made. Improvements will be assessed by the Regional Pitch Advisor and the club will have an opportunity to gain further advice.

If as part of the initial or follow up site visits it is considered that support above “advice” would be helpful the club can discuss funding options with the Northumberland County FA Facilities Development Officer 

Costs & Payment

The cost for the programme is £150 per facility/site.

Clubs will be invoiced and required to pay Northumberland County FA 14 days in advance of the first visit.

The FA Pitch Improvement Programme offers an ideal opportunity for clubs and facility providers to gain expert support to help deliver the best possible playing surfaces. 

If you have any questions or would like further information on this programme, please do not hesitate to contact us on 0191 2700 700

In addition to The Football Foundation, listed below are some additional funding sources that can be used to assist your project. Please click here to see a list of other opportunities.

Please click here for pitches within Northumberland that are on the FA's 3G pitch Register 

If affiliated clubs play on a 3G Artificial pitch that is not on the 3G register then this could lead to their insurance being void and face disciplinary charges from the County FA.

If you know of a 3G Artificial Pitch that is not on the register please inform the County FA.

The purpose of a LFFP is to identify the priority projects for potential investment in your local area. The FA alongside the Premier League and Sport England (on behalf of the Government) have created all LFFP's.

LFFP will:

- Set a 10 year vision to transform local football facilities

- Identify priority projects for potential investment

- Act as an investment portfolio for projects that require funding

- Be updated on a regular basis

As the nation's most popular team sport, football has the power to contribute positively to vital social outcomes and health priorities. £1.3 billion has been spent by football and Government since 2000 to enhance existing facilities and build new ones.Nationally, direct investment will be increased - initially to £69 million per annum from football and Government (a 15% increase on recent years). Locally, the work has already started and LFFP's will guide the allocation of 90% of national funds and forge stronger partnerships with local stakeholders to develop key sites.

Whilst a LFFP identifies priority projects for potential investment, it does not guarantee the success of future funding applications. Each project must still follow an application process to show how it will deliver key participation outcomes, become a quality & sustainable facility and demonstrate suitable match-funding. When each project is in a position to proceed, the Football Foundation will determine a suitable time-frame to submit a grant application and pre-application support will be provided by Northumberland FA and the Football Foundation.


Click here to access your Local Football Facility Plan

To ensure there is a good supply of high quality playing pitches and playing fields to meet the sporting needs of local communities, all local authority areas should have an up-to-date Playing Pitch Strategy. By providing valuable evidence and direction a PPS can be of significant benefit to a wide variety of parties and agendas.

The strategy will help to inform planning decisions by the Council and will be a guide to investment decisions from a wide range of bodies and partner organisations that seek to provide high quality sports facilities across the borough.

Please note that this strategy is an enabling document and so does not commit Local Authorities or any other body to funding any of the actions identified.

• Newcastle

• North Tyneside

• Northumberland