Updated September 2026. Every fund below has been checked against the funder's own website.
Grants can pay for the things subs never quite stretch to: new goalposts, portable floodlights, pitch drainage, maintenance machinery or a changing room refurbishment. The challenge is knowing which funds exist, which ones your club can apply to and what funders want to see.
This guide covers the main grants open to grassroots football clubs across the UK, with the amounts available, who can apply and tips for a stronger application.
| Funder | What it funds | How much | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Football Foundation | Goalposts, portable floodlights, pitch machinery, drainage, fencing, 3G, pitch improvements, facility improvements | Up to £25,000 (changing pavilions up to £100,000) | England |
| Premier League Stadium Fund | Stadium improvements such as LED floodlights, stands, turnstiles and clubhouses | LED Floodlight Fund: up to 70% of costs | England (National League System steps 1–6, women's tiers 1–4) |
| Sport England Movement Fund | New activity, spaces and equipment, and club capacity | £300 to £15,000, as a grant or crowdfunding pledge | England |
| National Lottery Awards for All | Community projects and activities | £300 to £20,000 (England) | UK-wide, with a separate programme in each nation |
| Cymru Football Foundation | Equipment, facilities, stadia and sustainability | Up to £25,000 (equipment), £50,000 (stadia), £20,000 (sustainability), £500,000 (facilities) | Wales |
| sportscotland Sport Facilities Fund | Sports facility projects | Around £2 million a year in total | Scotland |
| Irish FA / DCMS Grassroots Facilities Fund | Pitch and facility improvements | Varies by round | Northern Ireland |
The Football Foundation is the biggest funder of grassroots football facilities in England, backed by the Premier League, The FA and the Government. You don't have to be a football club to apply, but grassroots football must be an integral part of what your organisation does.
Most of these grants go up to £25,000. The Foundation also runs the Lionesses HERe to Play Fund for women's and girls' football, the Premier League Defibrillator Fund, and programmes such as PlayZones and Hubs. To apply, create an account on the Football Foundation website and choose "Apply for Funding".
For clubs in the National League System (steps 1–6) and the women's football pyramid (tiers 1–4). It funds stadium improvements, and its LED Floodlight Fund covers up to 70% of the cost of new or upgraded floodlights. Premier League Stadium Fund
Grants or pledges from £300 to £15,000 for projects lasting up to 12 months, such as new sessions for under-represented groups, improving spaces and equipment, or building your club's capacity. You can choose a crowdfunding pledge instead of a grant: Sport England gives you half of what you need if you raise the other half from your community. There's no deadline. Apply at least 12 weeks before you want to start, and decisions usually take six to eight weeks. Movement Fund
In England, grants from £300 to £20,000 for community projects lasting up to 2 years, with decisions in around 16 weeks. The National Lottery Community Fund runs separate Awards for All programmes in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Awards for All England
Cymru Football Foundation funding
Around £2 million a year for facility projects, with application deadlines at 5pm on 1 April and 1 September each year. Projects that reach people in deprived or rural areas, people with additional needs and ethnically diverse communities are prioritised. Talk to sportscotland before applying. Sport Facilities Fund
Funding for grassroots football facility improvements, run in yearly rounds. The 2026–27 round closed on 18 March 2026, so watch for the next one. Irish FA fund
Don't overlook local sources: your County FA, your local council, your area's community foundation, and local businesses that fund community projects or sponsor kit.
Every football grant in this guide in one printable checklist, with amounts, deadlines and links, plus an application planner for your committee. We'll email it straight to you.
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Grants are brilliant for projects, but they won't pay for referees, pitch hire or kit every season. The clubs that do best combine grants with steady, reliable income:
Steady income also strengthens grant applications, because it shows funders your club is sustainable.
Yes. The Football Foundation, Sport England, the National Lottery and the national football foundations in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland all fund grassroots clubs, and many local councils and community foundations do too.
Most Football Foundation grants go up to £25,000. Changing pavilion and clubhouse projects can receive up to £100,000, with extra requirements for grants over £25,000.
Not usually. Most funders accept constituted clubs with a club bank account, but each has its own rules, so check the eligibility criteria before you apply.
Facility funds such as the Football Foundation pay for capital projects, not running costs. Funds such as the Movement Fund and Awards for All can support activities. For everyday costs, reliable income from subs and fundraising is usually the answer.
Funding details checked on official funder websites in September 2026. Funds open and close and criteria change, so always check the funder's website before applying.
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