Скачать или смотреть Investing in your Club Facilities

Charlotte is joined by Club Consultant Simon Wood to discuss the game-changing difference facilities can make to grassroots football clubs.

Learn more about England Football Accredited and how to get your Club involved: http://www.englandfootball.com/accred...

00:10 - Intro: Extra Time topic – Facilities; links to In The Box visit (Bournville Warriors) & partnerships
00:48 - Guest intro – Simon Wood (FA Club Consultant & Facilities theme lead)
01:02 - Simon’s background: Football Foundation, FA regional facilities, consultant; women’s game growth; facilities = top issue
02:28 - “Gamechanging investment”: focus on clubs; what the funding landscape looks like
03:02 - Landscape: big mix (from 3G builds to maintenance); Football Foundation investment; use Local Football Facility Plans via County FAs; need still huge but improving over 4–5 years
04:20 - Before applying: get the foundations right (identity, governance, finance)
05:08 - “Fit for funding” tips: clear vision, be realistic, map partners/stakeholders (LA, County FA, FF), check land/tenure, build a business & funding plan, learn from clubs who’ve done it
06:39 - Football Foundation priorities: on-pitch (grass improvements, 3G) + off-pitch (clubhouses/changing); small grants (maintenance kit, goals, storage)
07:58 - Don’t rely only on FF: pursue local grants, fundraising, creative ideas (buy-a-brick, sell pitch “squares”)
09:39 - Think “community asset”: secure a home that doubles as a hub to attract funders & sponsors
10:37 - Partnerships beyond schools: community centres, parish/town councils; ask “what’s missing locally?”
11:33 - Maximising venues: weekday classes, community groups, toddler sessions, etc.
12:02 - Team effort: tap County FAs, club networks, Clubhouse community; ask questions and share learning
12:35 - Create a project working group: avoid overloading volunteers; audit skills inside your club (PM, design, technical), add external expertise where needed
15:25 - Common pitfalls: don’t start works or spend before speaking to FF/County FA (can make you ineligible)
16:45 - Planning permission: seek advice first; wrong submissions cost time/money
17:18 - Timelines: be realistic—full-size 3G often 12–18 months; refurb/upgrade may fit into off-season
18:02 - Use in-club technical support to keep plans grounded
19:00 - Golden nugget: be realistic; phase projects (1/2/3); it’s a long journey—sustained upgrades grow women’s & disability football and community ties
20:27 - Wrap-up: join Clubhouse for peer support; subscribe to Clubs & Leagues Hub on YouTube for new episodes

#GrassrootsFootball #FootballFacilities