Pitch Preparation Fund

116 pitches in Manchester to benefit from £78,000 of Pitch Preparation Funding

Pitches across city receive Football Foundation boost

116 pitches in Manchester to benefit from £78,000 of Pitch Preparation Funding 

Football pitches across Manchester are set to be enhanced thanks to £78,000 worth of investment from a new scheme set up by the Premier League, The FA and Government’s Football Foundation.


The Pitch Preparation Fund was set up in support of the game, which is currently facing unprecedented challenges because of the COVID-19 outbreak.  It is providing grants to clubs that have lost out on normal revenue streams during this difficult period and helping them to get their pitches ready for when it is safe to play football again, following Government advice.


The Fund was greeted with a hugely positive response in the two-and-a-half weeks the application window was open during May.

As a result, £78,000 has been awarded to 37 clubs and organisations. This will allow 116 football pitches to be made match-fit, benefiting a total of 458 local teams.

How Manchester FA teams will benefit from the Pitch Preparation Fund in numbers:

A total of 37 grants awarded
£78,000 of investment
116 football pitches improved
458 football teams benefiting
28 grassroots clubs awarded grants
9 clubs in the National League System awarded grants


As a result of the exposure of the Pitch Preparation Fund, the Football Foundation also received an increase of 176% in its regular facility grant applications during May, compared with April. Many more football sites will therefore be improved over and above those receiving Pitch Preparation Fund grants.