Football clubs across 65 leagues in England and Wales have received funding from the Premier League to prepare for the resumption of football, as well as the safe return of supporters to stadiums where permitted.
A total of 1,090 clubs from the National League System, Women's Football Pyramid and Welsh Premier League have benefited from grants through the Matchday Support Fund, which has distributed more than £5.5million.
The money will allow clubs to put measures in place to make grounds safer for the 2020/21 season, given the risks posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The grants were managed by the Football Stadia Improvement Fund (FSIF), which is financed by the Premier League and provides support for non-league and women’s clubs with the cost of improvements to their grounds.
'Vital preparations'
"It is great to see so many clubs have benefited from the Matchday Support Fund, enabling them to make vital preparations at the start of the 2020/21 season," said Premier League Chief Executive Richard Masters.
"I am glad we have been able to build on our ongoing support for the wider football pyramid by helping men's and women's teams throughout the country get their stadiums ready for matches."
This new investment follows the recent provision of the Pitch and Club Preparation Funds, which saw £8.7m in grants from the Premier League, the FA and Government's Football Foundation awarded to prepare the country’s playing surfaces and facilities for the return of football.
Matchday Support Fund impact:
- 1,090 grants worth £5,545,500
- 913 grants awarded to National League System clubs
- 165 grants awarded to clubs in the Women's Football Pyramid
- 12 grants awarded to Welsh Premier League clubs
"We are extremely grateful to have received funding from the Premier League through the Matchday Support Fund," said Caroline McRoyall, chair, Tooting & Mitcham United FC.
"This money will help to contribute to the additional costs the club has outlaid in order to make the ground COVID-safe and allow us to welcome back spectators. Having fans at matches provides vital income for the club as well as a boost to the wellbeing of individuals who have been isolated during lockdown."
Lee Billiard, Head of Women's Football at Bristol City, said: "We're delighted to receive the Matchday Support Fund from the Premier League to help enhance the matchday experience and improve fan safety at Twerton Park for when supporters are permitted to return to sporting events.
"It will assist us greatly as we continue to adapt to the current regulations and put precautions in place."
"It's imperative we provide the best and safest facilities possible for our supporters in these unprecedented times."
The Matchday Support Fund was open to eligible National League System Clubs in Steps 1-6, the Welsh Premier League and women's clubs in Tiers 1-5. Under current Government guidelines, fans can attend matches in limited numbers at Steps 3 and below of the National League System and at Tiers 3 and below of the Women’s Football Pyramid.
The grants help clubs to make necessary changes to satisfy the latest FA, Welsh FA and Government guidance, covering two key areas of the matchday experience:
Stadium: grants can be used to make the physical infrastructure changes required to reopen their stadia in line with the latest guidance. This includes conducting risk assessments and implementing measures, such as reducing capacity and creating capacity for socially distanced movement.
Supporters: grants can also be used to help ensure supporters’ safe travel to and from stadia, as well as their attendance at the game, and the implementation of NHS Track and Trace measures. This could include:
- The purchase of contactless payment technology
- The installation of hand-sanitisation points
- Implementing advance ticketing systems
- Specialist consultancy support around risk assessments or travel plans
- Fan engagement interventions; such as additional signage, stewarding or transport hubs
"We are grateful for the Matchday Support Fund grant, which has really taken some pressure off the finances of the club and is already making a huge difference to the safety of all our teams at our stadium," said David Evans, Vice Chairman of Welsh Premier League club Aberystwyth Town.
"It will assist us greatly as we continue to adapt to the current regulations and put precautions in place."
