News

People living in Westoning, are set to benefit from fresh investment into local football facilities. Westoning FC have been awarded a grant from the Premier League, The FA and Government’s Football Foundation, to upgrade their grass pitches.

The Football Foundation is the UK’s largest sports charity and exists to improve the experience of playing football for everyone, by championing fair access to quality facilities.

Grassroots football matches and training cannot take place at the moment due to the COVID-19 outbreak and will only restart when it is safe to do so following government advice but this funding is great news for local football in the meantime.

This grant will enable Westoning FC, which gives 80 players the chance to play football each week, to improve their home ground at Westoning Recreation Ground.

Players will be able to enjoy better quality pitches, which will represent a significant improvement on the existing pitches that are prone to waterlogging and in need or renovation.

Westoning FC worked with the Football Foundation and the Bedfordshire FA to secure a £30,576 grant towards the 10 year project.

Steve Maker, Chairman of Westoning FC, said: “Westoning FC would like to thank the Football Foundation, Bedfordshire FA and Westoning Parish Council for working with us to secure this grant to improve the quality of the grass pitches at Westoning Recreation Ground. This will help us secure football within Westoning for the foreseeable future so we can continue to provide opportunities for the local community to play football on better quality grass pitches.”

Robert Sullivan, Interim Chief Executive of the Football Foundation, said: “We know the huge benefits playing regular football can have on individuals’ physical and mental well-being.  That’s why we’re committed to transforming the face of grassroots football facilities in this country.  It’s therefore very welcome news to hear that this funding will support Westoning FC in developing the grass pitches at Westoning Recreation Ground for their local community.

“Working with our partners – the Premier League, The FA, government and Sport England – we will be investing in over £1bn worth of local facilities across the country over the next decade.  We believe we can transform lives and strengthen communities by unlocking the power of pitches and this is another project that brings us closer to that ultimate goal.”