THE Scottish Football Association (SFA) has unveiled a £50 million fundraising plan to improve grassroots football facilities and boost participation.
The three pronged “Pitching In” plan, announced with a video from BBC Sport presenter Amy Irons, will target improvements to changing facilities, repairs to existing football fields, and the construction of brand new 3G astroturf pitches.
The SFA has started this with a £5 million donation following its record turnover of £65m this year.
Mike Mulraney, the president of the SFA, said that “improving facilities at all levels should be the association’s number one priority.”
He added: “Pitching In is our commitment to that pledge.
“We all know the socio-economic challenges facing the country at local and national level and so we want to work in partnership to improve existing facilities and create them where there is need.”
The funding from private, public and charity sources will look to improve changing facilities at 75 sites, upgrade 50 existing pitches, and build 40 brand new ones.
The plan will aim to complete the work by 2030.
Mulraney said: “We have committed our profits this year to the facilities fund. We will also welcome contributions from the philanthropic and business communities through the Scottish Football Partnership Trust.
“The only way to address this alarming shortfall in quality pitches is by teamwork. We are grateful to the Department of Culture, Media and Sport and partners for supporting nearly 100 projects in Scotland over the past four years with £42m and with a collective effort we can achieve so much more in the coming years.”
There will be a focus on improving facilities for a diverse range of people, including women, girls, and para-sports participants.
SFA chief executive Ian Maxwell said: “Through Pitching In, we can make a significant contribution to current and future generations by providing more places to play, and more spaces for girls and women, as well as the growing para football community, to feel welcomed when playing football.
“Our aim is to support similar projects across the country to provide a lifelong involvement of football from fun-4s to walking footballers and everyone in between.”
