Accrington Stanley Community Trust has been awarded a grant of £24,000 from the Premier League, The FA and Government’s Football Foundation to improve grass pitches in Hyndburn.
The grant has contributed towards the cost of a brand new £32,000 compact tractor to help maintain the grass pitches at the £3.5m Stanley Sports Hub facility.
Accrington Stanley Community Trust have been awarded the grant as part of the Football Foundation’s Grass Pitch Maintenance Fund to carry out maintenance works recommend by experts at the Grounds Management Association (GMA).
These recommendations were provided following the completion of a pitch inspection using PitchPower – the Football Foundation’s free grass pitch inspection web app.
Martin Fearon, CEO at Accrington Stanley Community Trust said:
“We’re delighted to have received this grant from the Football Foundation which will allow us to maintain the grass pitches at Stanley Sports Hub to a high standard. The new tractor will give us the tools to provide even better playing surfaces for grassroots teams who play at our facility.”
Robert Sullivan, Chief Executive of the Football Foundation, said:
“This Grass Pitch Maintenance Fund grant award to Accrington Stanley Community Trust will be vital for the local community in Hyndburn.
“Together, with our Funding Partners – The Premier League, The FA and Government – the Football Foundation is on a mission to deliver 20,000 ‘good’ quality grass pitches by 2030.
“Better quality grass pitches mean fewer postponements and more opportunities to play, helping to help unlock the power of pitches and get more people involved in sport, regardless of their background, age or ability.
“PitchPower is the starting point for anyone looking to improve their grass pitches. I would strongly urge anyone who is responsible for pitch maintenance or who wants free help and advice on how to improve their pitches to sign up by searching ‘PitchPower online.”
To start your grass pitch transformation, visit the Football Foundation website here: https://footballfoundation.org.uk/power-up-your-grass-pitch
