Football Foundation’s media campaign highlights participation increase thanks to better facilities
Former England defender John Scales joined Football Foundation Chief Executive Paul Thorogood to lead a media campaign on participation in sports at grass roots level.
The pair conducted a day of interviews to highlight a new Football Foundation survey, which showed the effect that its investment into improving grass roots facilities was having on getting this country more active.
The survey showed:
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A 21% increase in football participation at facilities which were upgraded as a result of Foundation investment.
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An increase of 13.6% in participation across all sports – so football investment is also driving participation in other sports, such as netball, hockey, rugby and basketball.
79 radio stations carried interviews on the subject, reaching over 13 million listeners, whilst seven websites carried the story reaching 50 million people.
Use the radio player in the right hand column to listen to John and Paul discussing the effects of grass roots investment.
John Scales said: “Everyone loves playing sport but in the last 30 years there has been some neglect of sports facilities in this country. The Football Foundation is addressing that and has funded over 4,700 grass roots projects worth £600m in the last eight years.
“Participation rates at sites they have funded are going up and up and up. As Kevin Costner said in his film Field of Dreams, “If you build it, they will come” and that is what the Football Foundation is doing. They are building it and people are coming.”
Since its launch in July 2000 the Football Foundation has been revitalising the grass roots of the game, constructing modern football facilities, developing football as a force for social cohesion and as a vehicle for education in communities throughout the country. It is funded by the Premier League, The Football Association and Government.
Paul Thorogood, Chief Executive of the Football Foundation said: “This new survey of participation at Football Foundation-funded sports sites demonstrates how the record levels of investment into community sport that the Football Foundation is directing is enabling more and more people to play regular sport in safer, more comfortable environments.
“It is thanks to the Foundation’s funding partners – the Premier League, The Football Association and Government – that this investment exists. Through the Football Foundation money is flowing from the top of the game into the grass roots.”
John Scales added: “Clubs, schools, charities and councils should know that they may eligible for funding. They can find out more, or apply online, at www.footballfoundation.org.uk.”
