FA invests in new grassroots football project

The FA is spearheading the Parklife project which will look to build 30 all-purpose football facilities in towns and cities by 2020.

Along with the Department for Culture Media and Sport, Premier League and local partners, the FA is set to help provide the sum in the project over the next five years.

The SGP Sheffield Graves centre, which has been built with Parklife project funding, will be officially opened on Wednesday by FA chief executive Martin Glenn and Sports Minister Tracey Crouch, and interim England manager Gareth Southgate believes the country will end up reaping the rewards.

He said: "When talking about player development you're always thinking about short, medium and long-term strategies. It can't always be about what's right for the next 12 months.

"We have to invest in young people in this country. The benefit for these sites might not be seen for a decade but we will benefit for decades. The investment isn't always about producing that elite player. It's for kids and communities.

"I know grassroots clubs, football or other sports, are a massive part of the local community and it gives kids somewhere to go where they feel safe, where they get a strong positive influence around them and there's a huge amount of social responsibility."

The centre in Sheffield is the second of its kind in the city, while a third is due to open there next year as the FA plans to offer greater access to player and coach development opportunities.

The FA also wants to ensure players have access to qualified coaches and to support the recruitment and development of referees.

Glenn added: "These hubs are the start of something big. The Sheffield centres mark the beginning of the end of a story all too familiar to the grassroots footballer of poor pitches, woefully inadequate changing facilities and a battle against the elements to get fixtures completed each winter."