5 Reasons Clubs Fail FA Ground Grading Inspection
Failing or being delayed at ground grading is costly, stressful and — in the worst case — can deny a club promotion it has earned on the pitch. Many of the most common failures are also the most avoidable, and a large share of them relate to the perimeter barrier. Here are the five fencing-related reasons clubs most often come unstuck, starting with one that is brand new for 2026/27 and already affects around 900 clubs. For the criteria in full, see our complete guide to FA ground grading.
The five recurring fencing failures are: a solid brick, breeze block or concrete barrier, which is now prohibited outright; infill that does not meet the requirement, whether missing or the wrong material; the wrong setback distance; incomplete perimeter coverage; and temporary fencing where a permanent barrier is required. Every one is avoidable with the right specification and some planning ahead of the deadline.
1. A Solid Brick, Breeze Block or Concrete Barrier
New for 2026/27 and now the single most likely reason a club fails. The FA's Stadium Accreditation Criteria prohibit solid brick, breeze block and concrete pitch perimeter barriers across Steps 1–6 of the men's National League System and Tiers 3–4 of the Women's National League. Around 900 clubs are affected, and roughly 160 have been contacted directly by the FA.
This one catches clubs out because the wall is often in perfectly good condition. Condition is not the test — material is. The change followed a safety review prompted by the death of a young non-league player who collided with a concrete pitchside wall, so this is a safety rule rather than a cosmetic one and there is no discretion in it.
Because the requirement is imposed rather than chosen, the Premier League Stadium Fund will contribute up to 100% of the cost of removing or protecting a solid barrier, against a standard 70% for a new barrier. Establish early whether you fall into this category and photograph what you have — it is the difference between funding 30% of the project and potentially none of it. See how to fund your pitch perimeter fence.
2. Infill That Does Not Meet the Requirement
At Steps 1–4 the barrier must prevent the ball passing through or under it. This fails in two ways, and both are common.
Infill missing entirely. A single rail, or a post-and-rail barrier with open gaps between and beneath the rails, does not satisfy the criterion. Double mesh closes both the between-rail and under-rail gaps by design, which is why it is the standard specification at graded grounds.
Infill present but not accepted. The criteria explicitly exclude hi-vis orange or yellow plastic multi-purpose fencing as infill at the graded steps. Clubs that have used it as a cheap stopgap are routinely caught out, and there is no discretion here either.
3. The Wrong Setback Distance
The barrier must sit at the correct distance from the edge of the playing surface — not the painted line. The minimum is 2,250mm at Step 1, ideally 2,750mm, and 1,830mm at Steps 2–7.
Measuring from the touchline rather than the turf edge places the fence too close and fails the criterion. It is also the most expensive error on this list to correct, because there is no adjustment — the posts come out and go back in. Our guide to measuring your pitch shows how to get it right first time. One further trap: if the Premier League Stadium Fund is paying for a new barrier at Grade 1, it must be set at 2.75m, not the 2,250mm FA minimum.
4. Incomplete Perimeter Coverage
The barrier must cover every side of the ground that is open to spectators. A fence that runs three sides and leaves the fourth open — perhaps where a clubhouse or hedge sits — does not comply if spectators can access that side.
The subtler version of this failure is a gap between the barrier and the spectator hardstanding. The criteria require no gap, and it is exactly the sort of detail that fails an otherwise good installation because nobody thought to check it. Walk the full perimeter and look down as well as along.
5. Temporary Fencing at Steps 5 and Above
From Step 5 upwards a permanent fixed barrier is required. Fencing that can be lifted out or removed without tools does not comply, however neat it looks on matchday. If your barrier is temporary or removable, it will need replacing with a permanent system rather than tidying up.
Even a perfectly specified fence fails its purpose if it is not installed in time. Most steps require the work complete by 31 March for promotion eligibility. Allow a minimum of 12 weeks from first enquiry to a finished barrier, and considerably longer if a wall has to be demolished first and a grant application sits in between. Start in the autumn, not the spring — clubs that begin in January are the ones that miss it.
How to Pass First Time
Specify correctly
Right system for your step
Use a permanent, infilled PVCu barrier appropriate to your grade. Check the grading criteria for your step before ordering, and speak to your PLSF Technical Manager before specifying anything you intend to claim for.
Correct specificationMeasure correctly
Setback from the surface edge
Set the fence line at the right distance from the playing-surface edge on all spectator-accessible sides, with no gap left to the hardstanding behind it. We recommend 2,250mm across all levels so the barrier never needs moving on promotion.
Accurate setbackPlan the timeline
Start early, fund early
Quote in autumn, apply over winter, install before the spring deadline. Order only on written grant approval — retrospective applications are not accepted — and leave margin for weather.
Beat the deadlineDon't Risk a Grading Failure
We supply perimeter fencing specified to the FA ground grading criteria for your step, with the documentation your grading assessment and grant application require. Supply only or fully installed, nationwide — free quote within 24 hours.
Get a Free Quote FA Grading GuideNorvale Sport is a trading name of The Outdoor Look Limited, registered in England and Wales No. 11676614. VAT No. 232 7154 28.