Welsh Football Officials Outline £150m Facility Investment Need
Football Association of Wales (FAW) officials have stated that £150 million is required to develop the necessary football facilities across Wales by the end of the decade. This investment aims to accommodate the rapid growth in participation throughout the country.
The FAW emphasizes that this funding is essential to keep pace with the increasing number of players engaging in the sport. FAW chief executive Noel Mooney has described the recent change in the Welsh government as an "opportunity to reset how sport is funded in Wales."
Over the past four years, the FAW’s charitable branch, the Cymru Football Foundation (CFF), has managed £27 million in spending to enhance football facilities at all levels. However, a new consultation indicates that funding needs to increase fivefold to meet current and future demands, highlighting a significant shortfall in pitches and other infrastructure.
The rise in participation includes a 21% overall increase, with a notable 47% surge in women and girls playing football, and a one-third increase in young players.
New Local Football Facility Plans have been unveiled, identifying existing and potential sites across 22 local authority areas. These plans focus on addressing the rapid growth in women’s and girls’ football and filling current gaps in facility provision to meet demand.
"Investing in facilities is essential for the future of the game across Cymru – demand is at an all-time high and these local football facility plans are our strategy to provide essential positive, safe environments for our grassroots players to thrive," said Mooney.
The Welsh Government, which Mooney has previously urged for increased support, announced it will commission its own audit of regional sporting facilities. Football facilities will be a key consideration in this process.
Wales’ qualification for Euro 2025 has coincided with a 47% increase in participation among women and girls, further intensifying the demand for improved facilities.
'Reset How Sport Is Funded in Wales'
The FAW-supported review involved local clubs, authorities, and other sporting organizations contributing to a survey assessing current facilities. The findings revealed several critical areas where supply does not meet demand.
Only 43% of grass pitches were rated as "poor" or "unclassified," and 18 out of 22 local areas were underserved by artificial playing surfaces. Additionally, changing facilities were found to be insufficient.
With registered players reaching a new high of 120,000 earlier this month, demand for quality facilities is expected to continue growing.
The FAW channels investment into grassroots football through the Cymru Football Foundation, which receives funding from Sport Wales, the Welsh Government, the English Premier League, and local partners.
Mooney has consistently called for increased support from Cardiff Bay. Speaking to BBC Politics Wales, he expressed optimism about fresh backing from the new Plaid Cymru Welsh government.
"It's something we've looked for a long time to have a minister responsible for sport... what that means tangibly is we need more funding for facilities. Football has now 120,000 registered players, our new strategy will look to grow more and more - and we need great facilities to do that. We've got an opportunity to reset how sport is funded in Wales, and we're very confident this government will do just that," Mooney said.
He also highlighted that the appointment of a minister for public and preventative health could facilitate access to resources encouraging more people to participate in sport.
The Welsh Government stated:
"This Welsh Government is committed to working closely with governing bodies to expand opportunities and remove barriers in sport. We will commission an audit of community and regional sporting facilities and will engage with key partners, including national governing bodies, to inform targeted capital investment over the government term. Football facilities will be an important consideration in taking forward these commitments."
