Slough Town awarded Grow the Game grant

The grant, which will provide a boost to grassroots football in Slough has paved the way for Slough Town to progress the formation of girls and women’s football teams as well as adding to the existing Disability provision by introducing a second adult team and a youth team over the next two years.

England Men’s Senior Manager and Football Foundation Ambassador, Gareth Southgate, said:

“I am so pleased that Slough Town has secured this Grow the Game grant. The club has worked very hard with Berks & Bucks FA and the Football Foundation to get more local people playing football so that they can enjoy the many physical and mental benefits that come with playing regular sport.

“Grow the Game is mainly funded by The FA and delivered by the Football Foundation. This is money that is flowing from the very top of the game down to the lowest levels, to help clubs at the grassroots to bear the cost of starting up a new team, whether it be for a new kit, pitch hire or sending volunteers on FA accredited coaching courses.”

Grow the Game is a £2.5m programme funded by The FA and the Football Foundation. It awards grants to grassroots football clubs that wish to create new teams, especially amongst under-represented groups.

£1,500 is available to help FA-affiliated clubs with the cost of creating a new team, which might include the cost FA coaching courses; FA league affiliation costs; referees’ fees; first aid kits; and even football kit & equipment.

General Secretary, Kay Lathey, said:

“We are delighted to have been successful in our bid for funding from the Football Foundation. Now that the club is back in the town we aim to develop a provision that the whole community can benefit from and grow the club into something that the whole town is proud of. We have decided to focus on two areas where there is a distinct lack of provision for competitive football."

About Grow the Game

Grow the Game is delivered by the Football Foundation, the nation’s largest sports charity. Last year the scheme achieved:

• 2,159 new teams
• 8,787 female footballers
• 23,332 male footballers
• 5,715 new coaching qualifications

Since it was launched in 2010, the Grow the Game scheme has attracted a total of 161,285 new football players into playing regular football.

About the Football Foundation

As well as delivering Grow the Game, the Football Foundation delivers the Premier League & The FA Facilities Fund on behalf of the Premier League, The FA and the Government, through Sport England. Since 2000, the Foundation has supported over 15,000 grassroots projects worth more than £1.4bn.