Sixteen grass football pitches across three sites are due to receive an investment boost of £171,776 thanks to a funding application to the Football Foundation from the North Kent Sunday Football League in partnership with Gravesham Borough Council.

The project stemmed from an initial conversation between Gravesham Borough Council and the Kent FA, along with several clubs and leagues operating in the borough.

The sites - Cascade Leisure Centre, Kings Farm Playing Field and Springhead Recreation Ground - are owned by the local authority, supported by the Kent FA to undertake the initial PitchPower assessments.

Local authorities are not eligible applicants for the grass pitch maintenance fund, so the North Kent Sunday Football League agreed to apply for the funding on the council’s behalf.

Now that the funding has been awarded, the league will work with the council on spending the funds in line with the recommendations in the PitchPower assessment report.

Culverstone Recreation Ground, another Gravesham Borough Council site, is currently subject to an application to the grass pitch maintenance fund by Gravesham Girls and Ladies FC and is expected to be granted £43,520, which would bring the investment into the 20 pitches to more than £215,000.

Email Kent FA’s Facility and Investment Lead Aidan Ainsley on aidan.ainsley@kentfa.com for more information on grass football pitch improvement.