What funding is available for supporting Grass Pitches?

PitchPower (PP) is a web app that puts the power in your hands, making it easy to sign up and carry out pitch inspections. You'll then get a detailed assessment report from the grounds management experts at the GMA with recommendations on improving the quality of your grass pitches.

To start your PP submission you must create an account via the following link: https://pitchpower.org.uk/

This is a requirement to access the Grass Pitch Maintenance Fund (GPMF)

The GPMF is a six year grant, providing up to £2500 inc. VAT for every one of your 11 a side pitches in the first two years and scaled down over six years (£2,000 for 9 a side and £1,500 for Mini Soccer). This Grant can be used to employ contractors, purchase materials, and purchase a soil sampler. The funding available per pitch will depend on the Performance Quality Standard (PQS) rating received.

Off the back of this, you will be able to produce your own maintenance schedule based on the recommendations in your PitchPower (PP) Assessment Report to improve your pitch and sustain, or enhance the pitch to the GMA’s ‘Good’ PQS standard.

Grants are to improve grassroots community pitches:

• Pitches used for Step 7/feeder leagues are eligible so long as the predominant usage is for grassroots community teams.
• (The Football Stadia Improvement Fund is a fund which may be available for clubs playing at a higher step within the football pyramid.)

Football Foundation Small Grants are available to support purchase of pitch maintenance equipment or machinery.

There is a requirement to submit a minimum of two PP assessments annually it is mandatory that one of  these submissions is competed between November and March. A good example of ideal times to carry out your assessment are as below:

September/October : so that in-season maintenance works can be recommended
February/March: so that end of season renovation operations can be recommended

If the grant is awarded, two members of the organisation or club will need to enrol on and complete the GMA’s online Level 1 Winter Pitch training course. The club or organisation is responsible for organising and supervising any works carried out by a contractor; recommended works should be performed on all pitches funding was successful.

The funding rate for year 1+2 at 100%, 66% years 3 + 4, 33% years 5+6 – thereafter the pitch is required to be sustained at the GMA’s PQS standard of ‘Good’ or above.