Welsh football funding lends helping hand to clubs
Fifty one football clubs across Wales have received a helping hand to develop their grounds – thanks to a joint venture between the Welsh Football Trust and Football Association of Wales (FAW).
Welsh Grounds Improvements – a funding initiative set up by the two organisations – has awarded £500,000 in grant aid to pay for ground and pitch-side improvements at the 51 clubs, with all the work due to be completed by July in readiness for the new season kick off.
Formed in April 2008, this is now the third round of funding to be distributed by Welsh Grounds Improvements to clubs in FAW affiliated leagues with the total awarded to date reaching almost £1.5million.
The grants, which pay for work ranging from new dug-outs to spectator stands, are awarded to clubs that are actively looking to develop their grounds to meet FAW League Pyramid criteria.
Among the 51 clubs to be awarded grants this year is Welsh Premier League club Airbus Broughton FC who will build new spectator seating, Mid Wales League club Dolgellau FC will install pitch drainage and a spectator stand will be built at Welsh Alliance League club Pwllheli.
Peter Lee, Chairman of the Welsh Grounds Improvements Board, said: “It is our aim to continue to help clubs to improve the facilities they offer to the community. Many clubs have benefitted from Welsh Grounds Improvements funding over the last two years and we are very happy to be able to support 51 more clubs this year.
“We received a total of £2.5m worth of applications from 74 clubs and all were assessed against criteria required for each league.
“We hope to help many more clubs improve their future prospects and at the same time close the gap between the standards of facilities in place at football clubs across Wales.”
