Millions pledged to help grassroots football come back stronger

Outdoor sports are coming back soon!

Grassroots football clubs across England could be given thousands of pounds to spend on improvements ahead of communal sport restarting after lockdown.

No - that doesn't mean your team will be able to spend the money on bringing in professional players!

But it does mean your local club could see improvements to changing facilities, new equipment or enhancing the quality of grass pitches.

Are rusty old goalposts a familiar sight?

The £16 million will be provided by the Premier League, the Football Association and the government's Football Foundation in order to help clubs that may have struggled during the coronavirus pandemic.

Organised sporting activities, including children's football, have had to stop for months at a time since the pandemic began, and with little income, many have had to close completely.

Are you looking forward to when your club can restart?

But clubs in England hope to reopen as lockdown restrictions start to ease.

Around £2 million will be specifically set aside for clubs in the highest areas of deprivation in England, disability football and women and girls teams.

The chief executive of the FA, Mark Bullingham said, "Grassroots football has a hugely positive impact by bringing communities together and improving the health of the nation. These new funds will provide crucial financial support to clubs and leagues, helping them to get the game we love up and running again."