The Premier League is launching a campaign to highlight the impact of its investment on wider football and communities, as it announces new funding to benefit clubs and fans at all levels of the game.
Premier League success means unprecedented financial support is distributed across the leagues in England and Wales, from grassroots to professional football, across both the men’s and women’s game.
World-leading investment ranges from funding to underpin Academies throughout the Premier League and EFL, to the development of pitches and facilities which has benefited tens of thousands of grassroots and lower-league teams.
The ‘Premier League Supports’ campaign will be visible at all Premier League matches between 1 and 9 April. During this period, clubs across the game are celebrating a person who has been involved in one of the programmes funded by the Premier League, which are delivered at community venues and schools across the country.
As part of the campaign, the League is announcing two further investment packages, which will positively impact clubs at multiple levels. Through the Premier League Stadium Fund, a total of £9 million is being made available to support non-league and women’s clubs with the installation of energy-efficient LED floodlights at their stadiums.
The floodlight upgrades will financially benefit clubs who are facing increased energy bills. They will also improve clubs’ environmental sustainability as LED lights use less energy and need replacing less frequently compared to traditional floodlights.
Grants, which will be delivered by the Football Foundation, are being made available from this April to National League System and Women’s Football Pyramid clubs over the next three years through the Premier League Stadium Fund. This has already awarded more than 5,500 ground-improvement grants to 1,030 clubs across 114 different leagues, totalling over £185 million to date.
The Premier League Fans Fund will invest a further £5 million over the next two seasons into initiatives that will help strengthen the bond between clubs, fans and local communities. Grants between £10,000 and £25,000 will be made available to clubs in the Premier League, EFL, National League, FA Women’s Super League and Women’s Championship.
The fund will support a range of fan-focused projects, including schemes for under-represented groups to further develop an inclusive and welcoming matchday experience for everyone. Other examples include programmes to benefit older fans and people living with dementia, cost-of-living initiatives such as food banks and mental health awareness programmes.
Both funds form part of the £1.6 billion investment the Premier League has committed for wider football and communities between 2022 and 2025.
Premier League Chief Executive Richard Masters said: “The Premier League is proud to provide world-leading financial support for football at every level, helping thousands of clubs to have a positive impact on their local community.
“Our wide-ranging investment supports an array of programmes within communities and the ‘Premier League Supports’ campaign is an opportunity for clubs at all levels to celebrate the unsung heroes who help deliver or participate in this activity.
“The new funding announcements we are making highlight our commitment to deliver more support than ever before and will benefit the people and places that are the heartbeat of football up and down the country.
“The strength of the football pyramid in this country is unique and we will continue to look at new ways to support the entire game, directing funds where they are needed most.”
Peacehaven and Telscombe FC, who play at Step Five of the National League System, have received more than £120,000 of funding for ground improvements through the Premier League Stadium Fund, including the installation of LED floodlights last year. They have also received grants for a new stand, new roof on their clubhouse and an upgrade to their dressing rooms.
Club Chair Sue Norwood said: “We are extremely grateful for the support we have received through the Premier League Stadium Fund over the years. The new floodlights have significantly reduced our bills and we also received grants which helped us make emergency repairs to our stadium following recent storm damage.
“The process has always been extremely efficient, and it is so important for clubs at this level to be able to rely on Premier League funding when the support is needed most. This was the case during the pandemic when we were able to apply for grants which helped at a time when we weren’t generating any income through matches.”
Over the next two weeks, the Premier League will be showcasing the impact of its flagship community and education programmes, Premier League Primary Stars, Premier League Kicks and Premier League Inspires, as well as the programmes run through the Premier League and PFA Community Fund.
Investment for these programmes is distributed through the Premier League Charitable Fund, which is one of the biggest sport charities in the world. Grants are given to professional club community organisations across the Premier League, EFL and National League, helping them employ more than 6,200 people.
Annual investment into the Premier League Charitable Fund has more than tripled in a decade, with a three-year budget in excess of £100 million.
A range of content highlighting the Premier League’s support for wider football and communities will be available on the League’s digital channels between 1 and 9 April.