The Premier League, The FA and Government’s Football Foundation is
celebrating the impact of its funding on grassroots pitches, the first pitches
where many journeys in football begin, both on the pitch and behind the scenes.
Twenty-five years ago, a unique partnership between the Premier League, The FA and Government formed the Football Foundation.
Thanks to the ongoing support of funding partners, the Foundation has invested over £1 billion towards achieving this goal, delivering the grassroots sports facilities that communities up and down the country need and deserve.
Pictures from grassroots clubs across the country show where many journeys in football begin, including that of Football Foundation Supporter and Manchester City Football Group Director of Grounds and Landscapes John Ledwidge, who started out as an apprentice groundsman at Coventry City.
From those early days in the Midlands, Ledwidge’s career has taken him to some of the biggest clubs in English football. What began as an apprentice groundsman’s role has taken him through some of English football’s biggest clubs, including Aston Villa and Leicester City, before arriving at Manchester City. Today he serves as Director of Grounds and Landscapes for City Football Group, overseeing the pitches used across the organisation’s global network of clubs and facilities. John is also a proud supporter of the Football Foundation, backing its work to improve grassroots facilities across the country.
Back in Coventry, where that journey first began, the Football Foundation has continued to invest in the facilities that help football thrive. In 2003, £500,000 was contributed towards Coventry City’s new stadium, while further grants totalling around £130,000 were awarded to the club’s Community Trust in 2008 and 2012, supporting grassroots football and helping more people across the city get involved in the game.
Stories like Ledwidge’s show how many careers in football start at local clubs and community facilities, places that help shape futures and give people their first opportunities in the game, whether as players, coaches, grounds staff or volunteers.
John Ledwidge said: “My career in football began as an apprentice groundsman at Coventry City, spending most of my time out on the pitch learning the job properly. You realise pretty quickly how important good facilities and a good surface are for the players. For me that pitch was the start of a career in football, and investment in places like that helps create those opportunities”
Robert Sullivan, Chief Executive of the Football Foundation, added:
"For 25 years, thanks to funding from the Premier League, The FA and Government, the Football Foundation has been supporting communities to transform grassroots pitches and facilities. But behind every great grassroots pitch are dedicated grounds people like John who give their time and care to keep the game going.
"But sometimes clubs and organisations need vital funding to support this. By providing grants for 3G pitches and changing facilities, grass pitch improvements and goalposts, we want to ensure every community has a great place to play.”
Every football journey starts on a first pitch. For John Ledwidge, that first pitch was at Coventry City. To celebrate 25 years of the Football Foundation, share a photo of where your football journey began using #FirstPitches.
