ABOUT: FA Grow the Game scheme

Grow the Game is an FA backed scheme that is run by the Football Foundation. It has been alluded to within my documentary when talking about the FA perspective on the issues. It is essentially an initiative that looks to promote grassroots football by offering grants of up to £1,500 to the creation of new football teams and coaching qualifications.

It is aimed at funding projects that use football to increase participation from players and volunteers.

As of 2016, the Football Foundation released figures which showed that 8,661 new teams had been created across the country since the formation of scheme.

The FA claims that the fund has become hugely important for grassroots football as a result of the increase of individuals now playing regular competitive football as a result of their club recieving a grant. The grant is not given to organisations looking to make a profit.

The money recieved from the grant goes towards aspects of running a grassroots club such as facility hire, football kit and league entry.