Leicester City FC Sports Turf Academy and Leicestershire & Rutland County FA celebrate six years of supporting grassroots football

Partnership helps improve more than 250 pitches across 60 clubs while increasing participation and playing opportunities.

Left to right: Dr Jonathan Knowles, Mollie Jowett and Steve Dudley-Brown 

LCFC Sports Turf Academy and Leicestershire & Rutland County FA are celebrating six years of partnership working to improve grassroots football pitches across the county, helping local clubs enhance playing surfaces, access vital funding and increase opportunities for people to play football.

Over the past six years, the programme has supported around 60 clubs and more than 250 pitches, providing expert advice, practical maintenance support and guidance on accessing Football Foundation funding.

The initiative is designed to help grassroots clubs, many of which are run by volunteers, develop sustainable pitch maintenance programmes that improve surface quality and increase the number of matches that can be played throughout the season.

Mollie Jowett, Facilities Development Lead at Leicestershire & Rutland County FA, said: “The improvements we've seen over the last six years have been fantastic. For many clubs, it's about having that helping hand and someone they can speak to about what support is available and what a maintenance programme could look like.”

“We're there to help clubs access Football Foundation funding and work with the Sports Turf Academy to ensure they get the best possible outcome from that investment. Education is a really important part of the process too, particularly when many clubs rely on volunteers to maintain their facilities.”

While Football Foundation funding is not a requirement for clubs to access support, the partnership works closely with clubs to ensure they make the most of available funding opportunities.

The programme has consistently exceeded key performance targets. This season, Leicestershire & Rutland County FA set a target for 29 per cent of pitches to be receiving Grass Pitch Maintenance funding. The county currently has 43 per cent of pitches supported through the scheme, surpassing expectations.

Alongside improving pitch quality, the partnership is now tracking the wider impact of the programme through participation and usage data.

Mollie added: “What we're increasingly seeing is that better-maintained pitches are supporting more football. In some cases, pitches that may previously have hosted around 50 games in a season are now accommodating closer to 100 while still maintaining a good standard.”

“There's a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes to make that happen, but ultimately it means more people are able to play football throughout the year.”

The partnership also plays a proactive role in identifying clubs and facilities that could benefit from additional support. Working alongside organisations such as the Grounds Management Association (GMA), the team helps clubs engage with PitchPower assessments and identifies sites that may be missing out on available support.

As part of the programme, grassroots clubs are invited to regular educational events focused on pitch maintenance, machinery management and facility improvement. Additional onboarding sessions help clubs understand the funding landscape and develop long-term maintenance plans.

Dr Jonathan Knowles, Head of Sports Turf Academy said: “A key part of our role is helping volunteers and club officials develop the knowledge and confidence needed to make informed decisions about their pitches.”

“Whether it's renovation work, aeration, overseeding, machinery advice or equipment servicing, we're committed to helping clubs improve and maintain their facilities for the long term.”

The Sports Turf Academy also supports clubs with machinery guidance, helping them access grants and identify suitable equipment, while providing servicing and maintenance support to help maximise the lifespan of existing assets.

The success of the programme has led to ambitious plans for future growth. While the partnership currently supports around 250 pitches, further analysis has identified hundreds more facilities across Leicestershire that could benefit from additional assistance.

The Sports Turf Academy team believes improving pitch quality remains one of the most effective ways to increase participation at grassroots level.

Steve Dudley-Brown, STA Services Manager added: “There is a clear link between pitch quality and participation. When facilities improve, clubs can host more football and provide a better experience for players.”

“We're proud of what has been achieved through this partnership over the last six years, but we're equally excited about the opportunity to support even more clubs in the future.”

In addition to supporting grassroots football facilities, the programme also helps develop the next generation of grounds professionals through apprenticeship opportunities, ensuring knowledge and expertise continue to be invested back into the local game.