grassroots

Guiseley JFC's grassroots project

SPORTS MINISTER TRACEY CROUCH MP PRESENTS FUNDING CHEQUE FOR GUISELEY JFC’S GRASSROOTS PROJECT

Sports Minister Tracey Crouch MP (centre) was delighted to award official funding for Guiseley JFC and High Royds Sports Association's new changing pavilion yesterday, joined by local MP Stuart Andrew (centre left). The new facility will replace an existing cricket pavilion, and is set to increase on-site football participation. 
 

Tracey Crouch MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary for Sport, Tourism and Heritage, visited the future site of a brand new changing pavilion for Guiseley JFC yesterday (Tuesday 10 April) to officially award funding from the Premier League & The FA Facilities Fund, which is delivered by the Football Foundation. She was joined by Stuart Andrew, MP for Pudsey.

The club, working in partnership with High Royds Sports Association, is delighted at the new opportunities within grassroots sport the pavilion will present for the area. The grant will enable High Royds Sports Association to replace an existing cricket pavilion on-site with a state-of-the-art new changing pavilion. The new facility will include: four team changing rooms; two officials’ rooms; a large function room; a kitchen and bar, and spectator toilets.

The grant will also help the club to purchase ground maintenance equipment, including a new tractor and mowing system, to support the upkeep of the site’s grass pitches. Guiseley JFC, and partner club Menston JFC, have access to one 11v11 pitch, one 9v9 pitch, two 7v7 pitches and two 5v5 pitches – all of which will benefit from the new equipment.

The project will support Guiseley JFC and Menston JFC in developing new teams and providing a better environment for existing players. It is expected that the new pavilion and improvements made to the site’s playing surfaces will enable the clubs to collectively grow from 45 teams to 68 in the next five years. This will result in a 146% boost in football participation for those between the ages of 14-25 on-site.

The club and High Royds Sports Association worked in partnership with the Football Foundation and the West Riding FA to secure a £328,397 grant from the Premier League & The FA Facilities Fund.

The Premier League & The FA Facilities Fund is funded by the Premier League, The FA, and the Government, via Sport England. It is delivered by the Football Foundation, the country’s largest sports charity. Since it was launched in 2000, the Foundation has awarded over 17,000 grants worth more than £615m towards improving grassroots sport, which it has used to attract additional partnership funding of £817m – over £1.4bn of investment into the grassroots game.

By providing more high-quality facilities, coupled with coaching at the appropriate age group, the Premier League & The FA Facilities Fund aims to improve the experience for regular players as well as attracting new players to the game. Many of the new state-of-the-art facilities will serve to strengthen the connection between professional football clubs and their local communities, particularly in the most deprived areas of the country, through the professional clubs’ community trusts’ outreach work.

Tracey Crouch MP, Minister for Sport and Civil Society, said: “Guiseley JFC is a fantastic local club that plays an important role in the community. This investment from the government and the football authorities will build new facilities and improve the club’s pitches, encouraging even more local people to get involved.

“Sport has a unique power to help improve people’s lives - both physically and mentally - and I wish Guiseley JFC and High Royds Sports Association all the best for the future.”

Stuart Andrew, MP for Pudsey, said: “It’s fantastic that Guiseley JFC and High Royds Sports Association are working towards this brand new facility for our area. I’d like to thank the Sports Minister, Tracey Crouch MP, for taking the time to visit the future site and officially awarding the grant from the Premier League & The FA Facilities Fund.

“Investment from the Premier League, The FA and the Government, via Sport England, is playing an instrumental role in developing the new changing pavilion – as it does in many similar projects all over the country. I know that the pavilion will have a great impact on the game here, and I look forward to its opening.”

Chris Spargo, Chairman of Guiseley JFC and High Royds Sports Association, said: “The Sports Association is a unique collaboration of partners from a range of sectors, who have worked tirelessly to develop this fantastic opportunity for the community. The partners include Guiseley JFC, Menston JFC, St. Mary’s Catholic High School, Crompark Cricket Club, High Royds Residents’ Association, High Royds Sport and Social Club and Avant Homes Ltd., who have had the continuous support of our local councillors, in particular Graham Latty, and Stuart Andrew MP.

“The opportunity of having a range of high quality playing surfaces with changing, officials and social provision as a home for the association will make a major contribution to the improvement and further development of grassroots sport in the area. This development would not be possible without the significant contribution and support of the Premier League & The FA Facilities Fund.”