Following the Lionesses’ incredible success at UEFA Women’s EURO
2022, the Culture Secretary has announced that grassroots
facilities will be named after the 23 players in and around each
of their respective hometowns or places that shaped their
footballing careers in honour of their achievements.
As part of the Government’s £230 million investment to build or
improve 8,000 grassroots football and multi-sport facilities by
2025, alongside the stipulation that they must provide access for
women’s and girl’s football, the move will cement the team’s
legacy for generations to come. This will support the FA’s
ambition for the tournament to create half a million extra
opportunities for women and girls to play football.
£25 million has already been invested over the last year in
grassroots facilities across England, Scotland, Wales and
Northern Ireland with more than 170 facilities delivered by the
Football Foundation, in partnership with the Premier League and
the FA.
Culture Secretary said:
The Lionesses have enjoyed amazing success in a record breaking
tournament - selling out all of their matches, with over half a
million fans at games throughout the competition.
Millions of women and girls have been inspired by the team’s
success and honouring their achievements will mean they leave a
lasting impression at grassroots facilities across England.
The Government continues to support the growth of women’s and
girl’s football and driving up participation in the sport.
Working alongside the FA, the Government is determined to achieve
their ambition of equal access to football for girls in 90% of
schools by 2024, and the £320 million PE and School Sports
Premium School Sport and Activity Action Plan will help more
girls to take part in sport and physical activity.
During the pandemic £2.9 million in grant funding was provided
through the Sport Survival Package to the Women’s Super League
and FA Women’s Championship to cover essential costs and allow
the completion of their seasons. This was part of the
unprecedented £1 billion package to ensure the survival of the
grassroots, professional sport and leisure sectors during the
pandemic. The staging of EURO 2022 has also been supported with
£4.6 million.
In addition, the Government listed several high profile women’s
tournaments, including the Women’s FIFA World Cup, and the UEFA
Women’s EUROs as events of national significance. This means they
will now have greater opportunity to be shown on free-to-air
television, increasing awareness of the women’s game, providing
greater commercial opportunities and inspiring more young girls
to take up the sport.
It has also been announced that a review of the domestic women’s
game will launch later this summer, to look at how to grow the
game at elite and grassroots level. More details will be set out
in the coming weeks.
ENDS
Notes to Editors
- The Government’s grassroots pitches investment
was announced in March
2022. The next phase of projects will commence later this
year.
- The Women’s FIFA World Cup, and Women’s UEFA EURO tournaments
were added to the listed
events regime in April 2022.
- More details on the £320 million PE and School Sport Premium
can be found on gov.uk.
