Football clubs across Monmouthshire are celebrating after the government announced extra funding to support grassroots football in their local communities.

178 projects across the UK have been selected for Local Football Facility Plans, drawn up by the Football Foundation, which will see them receive extra funding to increase participation in sport, including for women and disabled players.

This extra funding includes £74,752 for Monmouthshire Council, with the investment set to help create and improve football pitches, changing rooms, and pavilions across the county.

The Conservative government, the FA and the Premier League have come together to provide a package of investment worth £230 million over the next four years which will build or improve up to 8,000 football pitches across the UK - supporting the construction or refurbishment of clubhouses, changing facilities, and community buildings.

As part of the package the government has invested £39 million to upgrade football facilities in England this financial year, with Scotland receiving £2 million, Wales £1.3 million, and Northern Ireland £700,000.

The new investment will widen access so that new generations and more local communities can come together, take up sport, and access high-quality facilities.

Monmouth’s Member of Senedd, Peter Fox welcomed the government’s announcement, saying: “Too many communities across the UK do not already have access to the high standard of local sports facilities that they need and deserve.

“I welcome the £74, 752 in investment from the Conservative Government, the FA, and the Premier League, which will support upgrades to changing rooms, pitches, and pavilions – widening access so that even more local residents can benefit from high quality sports facilities.

“Access to high quality facilities and increased participation can be transformational – this investment in grassroots sport will improve physical and mental wellbeing and bring our communities together.”

Commenting, UK Sports Minister Nigel Huddleston said:

“We are ramping up UK government funding to improve access to high quality sports facilities for the underprivileged and underrepresented across England.

“From artificial grass pitches in Sefton, Newcastle and Southampton, to great changing facilities in Blackpool and Solihull, and grass pitch improvements in Chelmsford, Harrogate and Ipswich, this investment will ensure more people can enjoy the physical and mental health benefits of these facilities in their local communities.”