season-review-2013-14

IN OUR COMMUNITIESDELIVERING FACILITIES FOR COMMUNITIESThe Premier League funds capital and programme-focusedinvestment to deliver state-of-the-art changing facilities and3G Artificial Grass Pitches to grassroots football.The multi-million pound programmeis heavily weighted toward areasmost in need of investment andsupports the development of stronglinks between communities and localprofessional football clubs.In the last 12 months, throughour investment into the FootballFoundation, 167 facilities projects havebeen awarded grants worth £28.4m.This in turn has attracted an additional£30.7m in partnership funding. Thatmoney has delivered 52 brand new3G Artificial Grass Pitches, 224 grasspitches and 51 changing facilities.This partnership – with The FA andGovernment via Sport England – willsee 152 3G pitches built over thecourse of the three-year deal, addingto the 469 that have been built sincethe Foundation was launched in 2000.52Brand new 3G ArtificialGrass Pitches 2013/14224Grass Pitches51Changing facilitiesI have witnessed first-hand theeffect 3G pitches can have, notjust on individual players, buton a whole community. ThePremier League’s commitment toputting funding into even more3G pitches is to be applauded.DAN WALKERBBC Sport broadcaster andFootball Foundation ambassadorThe Premier League Players’ Kit Scheme has providedmore than 3,255 schools and junior clubs withnew Nike kit since its launch in 2011.Watch James Milner’s interview:review.premierleague.com28