Faversham Town scoop £3,000 Grow The Game Grant from The Football Foundation

“Grassroots football in Faversham has been given a helping hand following a £3,000 Grow the Game grant from the Football Foundation, the country’s largest sports charity,” said a club statement.

“The grant will allow Faversham Town to field two new teams next season.  A new under 21 team in the Ryman Under 21 League and a new under 18 team in the Kent Youth League.

“To help develop these players’ new coaches will be appointed and two new coaches will be trained.

“The key strength of Grow the Game is that its participation increases are sustainable rather than transient.  Its grants create a solid infrastructure of teams and newly-trained coaches in which new people can start playing the sport, rather than simply providing temporary activity sessions, which are then vulnerable to drops in participation once the programme ends.

“This year sees a particular emphasis placed on increasing the number of teams and players from the under-15 age bracket and above, to address the decline in participation that has traditionally occurred as young people leave school and college. The other key focus is on growing the numbers of girls’, women’s and disability teams.”

The Premier League and The FA fund the Grow the Game scheme with £1.5m, which is delivered by the Football Foundation, the nation’s largest sports charity. The scheme is designed to increase participation in our national game by helping clubs to meet the essential costs of starting new teams.

Dartford-based Kent Invicta League club Kent Football United, were the first Kent club this summer to scoop a welcomed £3,000 grant from the same iniative.

Chris Greenfield, the club’s football development officer, said: 'The funding from the Football Foundation will enable us as a club to offer and attract player participation in the upper age groups.

“The costs of setting up and maintaining new teams are a huge financial cost to the club and without this essential funding from the Football Foundation would make it all the harder for us as a club to consider.”

Paul Thorogood, chief executive of the Football Foundation, said: “Grow the Game has become one of the Foundation’s most popular schemes. This additional funding provided by the Premier League and The FA is excellent news for grassroots clubs seeking to start new teams and get their volunteer coaches qualified with FA coaching badges.

“Congratulations to Faversham Town FC for working with the Kent County FA to secure their £3,000 Grow the Game grant which will increase participation in the region as well as support football development in the area.”

Visit Faversham Town’s website: www.favershamtownfc.co.uk