How to Apply for a Football Foundation Fencing Grant
Most grassroots football clubs that need new pitch perimeter fencing do not know that up to £25,000 of grant funding is available to help pay for it. The Football Foundation — the Premier League, FA and Sport England's joint grants programme — provides fencing grants specifically for grassroots clubs, and the process is more straightforward than most people expect. This guide explains exactly who is eligible, how much you can apply for, what you need to submit, and how to maximise your chances of a successful application.
The Football Foundation does not have a preferred supplier list for fencing. This means your club can use any reputable supplier — including The Outdoor Look — and still receive full grant funding. You are not restricted to specific companies.
What Is the Football Foundation?
The Football Foundation is a charity jointly funded by the Premier League, The FA and Sport England. It is the largest sports charity in the UK and exists specifically to improve grassroots football facilities across England. Since 2000 it has invested over £800 million in improving facilities at community clubs and schools.
Among its many grant programmes, it specifically provides funding for pitch perimeter fencing — including the type of permanent barrier required for FA ground grading compliance. The Football Foundation has been funding fencing at grassroots clubs for many years and the process is well-established.
How Much Can Your Club Apply For?
Maximum Football Foundation fencing grant · Up to 75% of total project cost
Football Foundation fencing grants are awarded at up to 75% of the total project cost, with a maximum grant of £25,000. This means for a project costing £33,333 or more, the Foundation will contribute £25,000 and your club contributes the remaining 25%.
For context, a standard 11-a-side pitch perimeter fence in Pro Pitch Double Mesh (approximately 350 metres at supply and install pricing) would typically cost around £29,000 + VAT. At 75% coverage, the Football Foundation would contribute up to £21,750 toward that project, leaving your club to fund approximately £7,250 + VAT. Smaller projects are equally eligible — the grant scales with the project cost.
Is Your Club Eligible?
To be eligible for a Football Foundation fencing grant, your club must meet the following criteria:
- Your club is affiliated to a County FA or affiliated league in England
- Your club has a constitution and a bank account in the club's name
- You have a clear plan for how the facility will be used and maintained
- You have a suitable site — either owned by the club or with a long-term lease (typically 10 years or more remaining)
- You are applying before the work has started — the Football Foundation will not retrospectively fund work that has already been completed
Do not purchase or order any fencing before your grant is approved. Retrospective applications are not accepted. The Football Foundation must agree to fund the project before you spend any money.
What You Need to Prepare Before Applying
A well-prepared application is processed faster and has a higher approval rate. Before you start your online application, gather the following:
Documents about your club
Documents about the project
Contact The Outdoor Look with your touchline dimensions and the distance you want the fence set back from the pitch edge — we will calculate the exact linear meterage required and prepare your full specification and cost breakdown within 24 hours. This is typically the most time-consuming part of the process and we do it for you, free of charge, with any enquiry.
How to Apply — Step by Step
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Register on the Football Foundation portal
Go to footballfoundation.org.uk and create an account for your club. You will need the club's name, County FA affiliation number and contact details.
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Contact us for your specification and quote
Before you complete the online form, contact The Outdoor Look. Simply provide your touchline dimensions and the setback distance you want from the pitch edge — we will calculate the exact linear meterage required, prepare a full specification including fence height, product type and gate configuration, and provide a formal quote within 24 hours. This is everything the Football Foundation needs to process your application.
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Confirm your planning position
At 1.1m height, pitch perimeter fencing generally does not require planning permission. However, confirm this with your local authority — particularly if your ground is in a conservation area, on listed land or on a school site. The Football Foundation will ask about this in the application.
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Complete and submit the online application
Log into the Football Foundation portal and complete the application form. Upload your specification, quote, site plan and supporting documents. A thorough, well-evidenced application is processed faster and is more likely to succeed.
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Receive your decision
The Football Foundation typically makes decisions within 10 working days for smaller grants. You will receive a decision letter outlining the grant amount, conditions and terms.
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Agree the grant terms and place your order
Once you have received and agreed the grant offer letter, you can place your order with The Outdoor Look. Only order after written confirmation — do not order before.
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Installation and final claim
After installation is complete, submit your final claim to the Football Foundation with proof of payment. The grant is then paid directly to your club's bank account.
Common Mistakes That Delay or Sink Applications
- Ordering the fencing before grant approval. The single most common and costly mistake. The Foundation will not fund retrospective purchases under any circumstances.
- Insufficient land tenure evidence. If your club plays on council or school land with a short-term or rolling licence, the Foundation may not fund the project. Check your lease before applying.
- No planning confirmation. Applications that cannot confirm the planning status are returned for clarification. A brief letter from your local authority confirming no planning permission is required satisfies this.
- Vague or incomplete specification. Applications without a clear specification of fence dimensions, height, product type and gate requirements are delayed. A formal specification document from your supplier avoids this entirely.
- Applying for more than one grant per season. Maximum one application per club per season. Plan your timing carefully if you have multiple facility improvement priorities.
Is There Any Other Funding Available?
Yes. For clubs at Steps 1–6 of the National League System, the Premier League Stadium Fund (formerly the Football Stadia Improvement Fund) provides capital grants for ground improvements — with perimeter fencing required for ground grading among the eligible works. The maximum grant and the percentage covered depend on your step and on funding your club has received in the previous five years; for example, a Step 2 club can apply for up to £250,000 in any five-year period, with grants capped at 70% of project cost. Clubs at other steps have different cumulative limits. It is well worth investigating alongside the Football Foundation for any club making a significant ground investment.
The Stadium Fund also runs a separate Club Development Fund, offering grants of up to £150,000 (with a minimum 10% club contribution) for England Accredited clubs in Steps 1–6 of the National League System or Tiers 1–4 of the Women's Football Pyramid — though this stream is focused on financial sustainability projects such as clubhouses and community facilities rather than perimeter fencing specifically.
County FA Capital Funds are also available in some regions. Contact your County FA directly to ask whether any local funding is available — several County FAs have their own small grant programmes for ground improvements.
We have written a detailed guide covering all grant options available for pitch perimeter fencing — Football Foundation, Premier League Stadium Fund and County FA programmes — with eligibility requirements and how to apply for each. Read the full Football Fencing Grants Guide →
Summary: Key Points to Remember
- Football Foundation fencing grants of up to £25,000 are available at all FA steps — including Step 7 and below
- Grants cover up to 75% of the project cost — your club funds the remaining 25%
- No preferred supplier list — you can use The Outdoor Look
- Never order fencing before grant approval — retrospective applications are not accepted
- We will prepare your full specification and quote free of charge to support your application
- Maximum one application per club per season — plan your timing carefully
Ready to Apply? Start with a Free Quote.
Contact The Outdoor Look with your touchline dimensions and the distance you want the fence set back from the pitch edge. We will calculate the exact linear meterage required and prepare your full specification and cost breakdown within 24 hours — everything you need to submit a complete Football Foundation application.
Get a Free Quote View Grants Guide