Football in Jersey was given a boost today with £6,000 worth of investment from the Football Foundation.

The funding is being awarded as grants from the Foundation’s Club Preparation Fund.  This has been created to help clubs prepare their buildings to safely reopen in line with Government guidance around hygiene and physical distancing, and the FA's guidance.

Twelve of the 23 clubs affiliated to the Jersey FA have their own "home" ground, and all 12 successfully applied for the funding of £500 each.

These Club Preparation Fund grants will go towards football sites to satisfy the extra hygiene measures that Government guidance requires.  This includes:

• Installing hygiene facilities, such as hand sanitiser dispensers, soap dispensers, paper towel dispensers and waste bins
• Modifications, such as safety screening, contactless payment systems and signage
• Facility maintenance work, such as repairing hand basins and hot water provision
• Professional inspections that may be necessary due to the prolonged period of closure resulting from the pandemic – including inspections of water quality, gas and ventilation.

“It’s really pleasing to see so many of our affiliated clubs tapping into these grants from the Football Foundation,” said Charlie Tostevin, chair of the Jersey FA’s Facilities Committee.

“As local players and officials prepare for the return of matches, this money will be much appreciated by clubs as they work to ensure their clubhouses and changing rooms comply with Covid-19 guidelines.

“There’s lots for them to consider, for example putting up new physical distancing signage, perhaps introducing contactless payment in their club bars, or bringing in cleaners to ensure changing areas meet the guidelines. This funding will really help as we get ready to get back out on the pitch.”

The investment follows the Foundation’s Pitch Preparation Fund that awarded £7m to 2,902 organisations across England and the British Isles. This is enabling over 9,000 football pitches to be made match-fit, and is benefiting more than 33,000 football teams.

The Football Foundation is a charity funded by the Premier League, The FA and the Government, through Sport England.