PREMIER PLAY BOOSTS CLUBS
Support will aid fight to survive
THE PREMIER League have answered calls to help Non-League clubs reeling from the Covid-19 crisis by making available a Matchday Support Fund that could total more than £5m.
The news was welcomed across the National League System, and will also be available to
FA Women’s Pyramid and Welsh Premier League clubs to prepare for the safe return of supporters to football grounds and satisfy the latest FA and government guidance.
Distributed through the Football Foundation, clubs are able to apply for maximum grants at their respective Step.
Grants can be spent on things like additional stewarding, building repairs and modifications, cleaning and sanitisation, contactless payment systems, professional inspections and fencing or one-way systems.
It can’t be spent on player or staff wages or purchase of kit and equipment.
Jack Pearce, the National League vice-chairman and chairman of Bognor Regis Town, has been instrumental in the successful discussions with the Premier League.
National League Step 1 clubs can receive up to £20,000, while £15,000 is available at
Step 2, £10,000 for Step 3 clubs and Step 4 clubs are entitled to receive a maximum of £7,000.
At Steps 5 and 6, it is £4,000 and £2,000 respectively.
Northern Premier League chairman Mark Harris believes it is an important milestone in a quest from NonLeague clubs to receive better funding from the top of the game.
“For many years everyone has been making the point about the need to receive a better share of funding from higher up,” he said.
“I don’t think anyone is so naive to think this is the turning point but it’s an important milestone in being recognised as the meat in the sandwich and actually that there is a recognition that the communities our clubs serve fulfil a really important role locally – not just in terms of delivering sport and recreation and physical and mental well-being.
“The Premier League need to be congratulated. Let’s face it, the Premier League has financial problems of its own. Jack Pearce did a lot of work on this to get it over the line.
“We need to be thanking the Premier League, building a relationship with them and demonstrating that this really does some good.”