Sunderland Echo

A kick-start for football

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“The fund provides almost £10 million of financial support.”

The Premier League, The FA, the government and Sport England have come together through their Football Foundation to launch a new Pitch Preparatio­n Fund in support of the game, which is currently facing unpreceden­ted challenges as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak.

The fund provides almost £10 million of financial support to those struggling to maintain their football pitches across the country.

This is a direct response to a need across the game, providing grants to clubs that have lost out on normal revenue streams during this difficult period and helping them to prepare their pitches after challengin­g winter weather conditions.

The move will help to get clubs in a position to start playing football again when it is safe to do so, following government advice, and is estimated that to benefit up to 4,000 grassroots clubs and organisati­ons.

A total of £9.56 million has been allocated to the fund, which is open to football clubs and voluntary organisati­ons that maintain their own natural grass pitches and have at least 12 months’ security of tenure.

Clubs with suitable tenure for a 3G artificial grass pitch are also eligible to apply.

Grassroots football clubs and organisati­ons, FA National League System Clubs from Step 1-6, Welsh Cymru Premier League clubs and clubs in The FA Women’s Pyramid (Tier 1-5) that maintain their own natural grass and third generation (3G) artificial grass pitches, are among those eligible to apply for funding.

The funding will help eligible clubs with essential maintenanc­e works.

The applicatio­n window will be open until 9pm on Monday, May 25, 2020.

Please visit the Football Foundation website for further details on the fund Michael Bell. Marketing & Communicat­ions Officer & Deputy Designated Safeguardi­ng Officer. Durham County Football Associatio­n Ltd. Starmer has ‘gravitas’

Hopefully Alan Wright (letters May 9) will be able to get out a little more and be able to read other pundits rather than those from Conservati­ve Central Office.

I recently read an article where a Mr George Osborne praised Sir Keir Starmer.

Mr Wright may remember that George was the Chancellor of the Exchequer who was responsibl­e for 10 years of austerity which left the NHS impoverish­ed.

He reduced salaries for nurses and doctors and all public workers.

I was surprised to see him praising Mr Starmer. Sir Keir Starmer has gravitas.

Mr Wright should watch the way in which he showed how shallow the arguments put forward by Dom Rabb were and how the Dom was unable to give proper answers.

The same thing happened recently at Prime Minister's questions.

The country needs someone with the serious attitude as shown by Sir Keir Starmer. Mike Brennan,

 ??  ?? “The move will help get clubs in a position to start playing football again.”
“The move will help get clubs in a position to start playing football again.”

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