New funding criteria announced for football stadia improvement work

Tue 14th Dec 2010 | Football Stadiums & Facilities

The Football Stadia Improvement Fund (FSIF) has announced new funding criteria for stadia improvement projects.

With an annual budget of £5m, provided by the Premier League, the new deal ensures that the FSIF can continue to offer grants to professional and amateur football clubs in the Football League and National League System (NLS) towards stadia improvement, such as building new stands, floodlights, pitches and CCTV.

All applications will be judged on financial need and available budget. Grants will be limited to 50% of eligible costs and the following upper limits will be applied:

·Football League Clubs: £750,000

·NLS Step 1: £400,000

·NLS Step 2 to 4: £150,000

·NLS Step 5 and 6: £100,000

·NLS Step 7 and below: £20,000, but up to £50,000 for applications including changing rooms.

In addition, a total of £200,000 of the FSIF annual budget will be ring-fenced each year to support the two clubs promoted from the Football Conference to the Football League to cover the costs of required safety installations, such as computerised turnstiles, CCTV, stadium control rooms, etc.

Women’s pyramid clubs are eligible for funding. The default level will be set at NLS Step 4 for clubs in the Women’s Super league, but as with all applications to the FSIF, applications will be judged on value for money and available budget.

Demand for these funds is expected to be high, and the FSIF will suspend the fund each year, once the annual budget has been exhausted.

Full eligibility criteria for all the above grant schemes can be found on the Football Foundation’s website www.footballfoundation.org.uk. Expressions of interest in applying for funding should also be made via the Foundation’s website.

Paul Thorogood, Chief Executive of the FSIF, said:“Supporters are the lifeblood of our national game. They generate the atmosphere, they bring colour to matches and they help fund their club’s existence.

“I am therefore delighted that the Premier League is securing the FSIF’s future. This means that vital funding towards stadia improvement will continue to help ensure that football fans and players across the country, and at all levels, enjoy their matches in comfort and safety.”

Richard Scudamore, Chief Executive of the Premier League, said: “The Premier League has funded the FSIF since it was launched in 2000. In that time it has provided crucial financial assistance for clubs throughout the football pyramid to improve their stadia.

“It has always been important to us that clubs and their fans at all levels of the game continue to benefit from Premier League funding. This new deal ensures that going forward.”

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