FOOTBALL Foundation grants in Suffolk have topped £100,000 inside the first two months of the season.

Since the official start of the 2021-22 season on July 1st, the Football Foundation’s Small Grassroots Fund has helped 22 different projects across the county.

The biggest of these have been at Brandon Town FC, who received £22,130 towards the refurbishment of their changing rooms, and Claydon FC, who received £18,200 towards maintenance of their grass pitches.

Smaller awards have helped fund ball-stop netting, goalposts, portable floodlights and storage containers.

Suffolk football clubs have also been successful in accessing more than £40,000 from the Community Sport Restart Fund, rising from £14,000 plus over the last month.

Suffolk FA Chief Executive Richard Neal said: “Despite the numerous challenges of restarting football for the 2021-22 season, clubs across Suffolk continue to invest in improving their facilities to the betterment of their participants, aided by significant financial support from the Football Foundation.

“To achieve £100,000 plus investment, contributing to £143,000 plus total project costs, by the end of September is testament to the continued energy and enthusiasm of the volunteers within clubs.

“Funding remains available for Goalposts and Storage Containers (for which our preferred suppliers are MH Goals Ltd and Portable Space respectively), Portable Floodlights, Grass Pitch Maintenance Works, Grass Pitch Maintenance Machinery and Equipment, Grass Pitch Drainage, Changing Pavilion or Clubhouse Refurbishments, and Fencing, along with larger-scale projects such as new or resurfaced Artificial Turf Pitches.”

Applications can be made through the Football Foundation website https://footballfoundation.org.uk/