FA Ground Grading Explained — Pitch Perimeter Fencing Requirements

What the FA Requires of Your Pitch Perimeter Barrier

Everything football clubs need to know about the FA's ground grading requirements — what is required at each step, the setback distances, what counts as an acceptable barrier and what does not. Sourced from the FA National Ground Grading Handbook v18 and the 2026/27 Stadium Accreditation Criteria.

📋 Handbook v18 ✓ 2026/27 Criteria ✓ Steps 1–7 Covered ✓ Setback Distances ✓ What's Prohibited ✓ Funding Routes

⚠ New for 2026/27: solid barriers are prohibited

The FA's 2026/27 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. Condition is not the test — material is, so a sound, well-maintained brick wall still fails. Where removal or protection is required, the Premier League Stadium Fund will contribute up to 100% of the cost.

What Is FA Ground Grading?

The Football Association's National Ground Grading system sets the minimum facility standards clubs must meet to compete at each level of the National League System and the Women's Football Pyramid. It covers everything from floodlighting and changing rooms to covered standing, seated capacity — and pitch perimeter barriers.

Every club in the NLS from Step 1 down to Step 7 is subject to ground grading. Clubs that fail can be demoted, denied promotion, or refused entry to a higher division even after finishing in a promotion position on the pitch.

Ground grading and Stadium Accreditation

The FA operates two connected systems. National Ground Grading applies across Steps 1–7 of the NLS and the Women's Pyramid. Stadium Accreditation sets the more detailed criteria used at the upper steps, and it is the 2026/27 edition of those criteria that introduced the prohibition on solid barriers. For pitch perimeter fencing, both are covered on this page.

The FA National League System from Step 1 to Step 7, showing the pitch perimeter barrier requirement at each step, setback distances, and which funding route applies

The FA Pyramid — Which Step Is Your Club?

The National League System runs from Step 1 at the top to Step 7 at the bottom, expanding significantly at each level. Below Step 7 sit county and district leagues, which are not formally part of the NLS but may have their own facility requirements set by the County FA.

FA Step	Grade	Official Leagues	Approx. Clubs
Step 1	Grade A	National League	24
Step 2	Grade B	National League North & National League South	48
Step 3	Grade C	Northern Premier League Premier \| Isthmian League Premier \| Southern League Premier Central \| Southern League Premier South	84
Step 4	Grade D	Northern Premier Div 1 East/West \| Isthmian Div 1 North/South \| Southern Div 1 Central/South	126
Step 5	Grade E	North West Counties, Northern Counties East, Midland, United Counties, Hellenic, Western, Spartan SM, Southern Counties East, Essex Senior, Combined Counties (Premier divisions)	~200
Step 6	Grade F	Division One equivalents of all Step 5 leagues, plus Kent Invicta, Anglian Combination, Eastern Counties and others	~350
Step 7	Grade G/H	County Senior Leagues and NLS Feeder Leagues across all 47 County FAs	~1,000+

What the FA Requires at Each Step

Requirements vary significantly by step. The key distinction is between steps where an infilled barrier is required (Steps 1–4) and those where a permanent barrier is required but infill is not explicitly required (Steps 5–6). Note that the criteria describe the barrier, not a product — they do not name double mesh or any manufacturer.

⚠ The most common compliance failure

The most common ground grading failure at Steps 1–4 is a pitch perimeter that does not meet the infill requirement. Post and rope, post and rail without mesh, and hi-vis plastic fencing all fail at these steps. Many clubs are unaware until the inspection report lands. Our guide to the five reasons clubs fail covers the rest.

Step / Grade	Barrier Required	Infill	Min Setback	Height	Solid brick / concrete	Hi-vis plastic
Step 1 / A	Permanent fixed barrier. Ball must not pass through or under.	Required	2,250mm (ideal 2,750mm)	1.1m	Prohibited	Prohibited
Step 2 / B	Permanent fixed infilled barrier.	Required	1,830mm	1.1m	Prohibited	Prohibited
Step 3 / C	Permanent fixed infilled barrier.	Required	1,830mm	1.1m	Prohibited	Prohibited
Step 4 / D	Permanent fixed infilled barrier.	Required	1,830mm	1.1m	Prohibited	Prohibited
Step 5 / E	Permanent fixed barrier. Infill strongly recommended.	Strongly advised	1,830mm	1.1m	Prohibited	Not suitable
Step 6 / F	Permanent fixed barrier. Infill recommended.	Recommended	1,830mm	1.1m	Prohibited	Not suitable
Step 7 / G–H	Post & rope is the absolute minimum. Permanent barrier ideally 1.1m.	Optional	1,830mm advised	1.1m ideally	Not covered	Case by case

Source: FA National Ground Grading Handbook v18 and the FA 2026/27 Stadium Accreditation Criteria. The solid barrier prohibition also applies to Tiers 3–4 of the Women's National League.

Pitch Setback — How Far Must the Barrier Be from the Pitch?

The setback is the gap between the edge of the playing area and the inner face of the barrier. Measure from the turf edge, not the painted line — taking it from the touchline is the single most common measuring error and it puts the barrier too close.

Step 1 — Grade A

National League

2,250mm min

Ideal 2,750mm. Note that where the Premier League Stadium Fund is paying for a new barrier at Grade 1, it must be set at 2.75m.

Steps 2–4 — Grades B–D

NL North/South to Div 1

1,830mm min

We recommend installing at 2,250mm to meet Grade A outright and future-proof for promotion.

Steps 5–6 — Grades E–F

Step 5 & 6 Leagues

1,830mm min

A permanent barrier is required. Installing at 2,250mm now means you meet Step 1 outright on promotion.

Step 7 — Grade G/H

County / NLS Feeder

1,830mm advised

Post and rope is the absolute minimum. A permanent barrier at 1,830–2,000mm is advised for any club with ambitions.

Our recommendation — install at 2,250mm across all grades

Even where the FA minimum is 1,830mm, we recommend 2,250mm at every level. It provides a buffer above the minimum, meets Step 1 outright, and means the barrier never needs repositioning on promotion. The additional 420mm has almost no impact on cost and removes any risk of a future compliance issue. There should also be no gap left between the barrier and the spectator hardstanding behind it — a published criterion that is easily missed. Our measuring guide shows how to set the line out.

Which Barrier Types Are Acceptable?

This is where clubs most often get caught out, and the 2026/27 criteria have changed the answer for a large number of grounds.

Barrier Type	Steps 1–4	Steps 5–6	Step 7	Notes
PVCu double mesh infilled barrier	✓ Meets requirement	✓ Meets requirement	✓ Meets requirement	Closes both the between-rail and under-rail gaps by design. The most common specification at graded grounds.
Galvanised steel infilled barrier	✓ If infilled	✓ Compliant	✓ Compliant	Named alongside uPVC by the Premier League Stadium Fund as an accepted material. Higher maintenance, and rigid at pitch level.
Solid brick, breeze block or concrete	✗ Prohibited	✗ Prohibited	Not covered	New for 2026/27. Must be removed or protected at Steps 1–6 and Women's Tiers 3–4, regardless of condition.
Advertising boards as infill	✗ Not acceptable	✗ Not acceptable	Grade H only	Accepted only at Grade H. Not acceptable at any higher step.
Post & rail, no infill	✗ Not acceptable	✗ Not acceptable	Minimum only	Does not meet the infill requirement at Steps 1–4.
Post & rope	✗ Not acceptable	✗ Not acceptable	Absolute minimum	Provides no ball retention or meaningful spectator separation.
Hi-vis plastic fencing	✗ Explicitly excluded	✗ Not suitable	Assess individually	The criteria state plastic multi-purpose hi-vis fencing is not considered suitable for infill.

⚠ Hi-vis plastic is excluded at Steps 1–4

The FA's Stadium Accreditation Criteria state that plastic multi-purpose hi-vis fencing is not considered suitable for infill. If your club is at Steps 1–4 and uses orange or yellow hi-vis mesh, it will fail your ground grading inspection and must be replaced with a permanent infilled barrier before the next one. Double mesh is the usual replacement.

When Do Inspections Happen?

Ground grading inspections are carried out by FA-appointed inspectors at the end of each season, and clubs are typically notified of the date in advance. The inspection covers the criteria for the step above the club's current level, so a Step 4 club in a promotion position is assessed against Step 3 criteria.

Inspections look at the current state of facilities, not planned improvements. If your barrier does not meet the requirement on the day, it is recorded as a failure regardless of what is planned or in progress. That is why acting early matters — allow a minimum of 12 weeks from first enquiry to a finished barrier, and longer if a wall has to come out and a grant application sits in between.

Newly promoted clubs — allow time

If your club gains promotion at the end of a season you may have a limited window to bring the ground up to standard before the following season. Pitch perimeter barriers are among the most frequently flagged items for newly promoted clubs. Start the process as early as you can, ideally before the season ends.

Does the FA Have a Preferred Supplier List?

No. The FA operates no approval, endorsement or certification scheme for fencing products, and the Premier League Stadium Fund states explicitly that it holds no preferred supplier list. Clubs can purchase from any reputable supplier.

This matters because the claim gets made. If a supplier tells you their product is "FA approved" or that the FA mandates their system, treat it with caution — the criteria describe a barrier, not a brand.

Funding Your Barrier

There is one national grant route for a pitch perimeter barrier in England, and it is not the one most clubs assume.

Premier League Stadium Fund

70%

Rising to up to 100% for solid wall removal

The route for pitch perimeter barriers. Contributes 70% of total project cost for a new barrier, rising to up to 100% where an existing solid brick, breeze block or concrete barrier must be removed or protected. Open to Steps 1–6 and Women's Tiers 1–4, subject to cumulative five-year caps: £400k at Step 1, £250k at Step 2, £150k at Steps 3–4 and £100k at Steps 5–6. No preferred supplier list.

Football Foundation

Not this

Cannot fund pitch perimeter barriers

Pitch perimeter barriers sit on the Foundation's explicit "cannot fund" list, and clubs at Steps 1–6 or Women's Tiers 1–4 cannot apply to the Foundation at all. Its fencing grant, up to 75% and a maximum of £25,000, covers boundary and security fencing at non-NLS sites — the site perimeter, ball-stop fencing and access gates. A different product, and a different fence.

⚠ Step 7 and below — the honest position

The Stadium Fund does not fund work to meet Grade 7. Combined with the Foundation exclusion, a club at Step 7 or below has no national grant route for a pitch perimeter barrier. County FA capital funds and local authority schemes are the remaining options, and your County FA facilities officer is the right first call. Full detail in our funding guide and our comparison of the two funds.

Frequently Asked Questions

My club is at Step 5 — do we need an infilled barrier?

Infill is not formally required at Step 5, but a permanent fixed barrier at 1.1m is. The FA strongly recommends infill at Steps 5–6, and if your club is promoted to Step 4 it becomes a requirement immediately. Fitting double mesh now costs £7 per metre more than single mesh and means never replacing a compliant barrier later.

We have a brick wall along one side. Does it have to come out?

If your club is at Steps 1–6 or Women's Tiers 3–4, yes. The 2026/27 criteria prohibit solid brick, breeze block and concrete pitch perimeter barriers, and condition is not a defence — a sound wall in good repair still fails. The upside is that this is the best-funded work available: the Premier League Stadium Fund will contribute up to 100% of the cost of removing or protecting it. Photograph what you have and establish this early, because it is the difference between funding 30% of the project and potentially none of it.

We have orange hi-vis fencing — will this fail our inspection?

Yes, if your club is at Steps 1–4. The criteria explicitly state that plastic hi-vis fencing is not considered suitable for infill at these steps and it must be replaced with a permanent infilled barrier. At Steps 5–7 it is not explicitly prohibited but is not a suitable long-term solution.

Our barrier is close to the touchline — will we fail on setback?

If it sits inside the minimum for your step it will be recorded as a failure. At Step 1 the minimum is 2,250mm from the edge of the playing area; at Steps 2–7 it is 1,830mm. There is no adjustment available — the posts come out and go back in — so it is worth measuring carefully before you commit. Contact us and we will advise on the best approach.

Can we use advertising boards as infill?

Only at Grade H (Step 7), under specific conditions. At Steps 1–6 advertising boards are not an acceptable infill solution. For new installations at any grade, the FA recommends purpose-designed barrier systems with integrated infill panels, and the Premier League Stadium Fund names uPVC or galvanised steel as the accepted materials for a funded barrier.

Do we need planning permission for a 1.1m barrier?

At 1.1m, planning permission is generally not required in England under permitted development rights. It depends on your location, any conservation area restrictions and local authority policy, so always confirm with your local planning authority in writing before installation and keep the confirmation — the Premier League Stadium Fund requires evidence that permission, where required, is in place before approving an application.

How do we get a specification document for our grant application?

We provide a full specification sheet, marked-up site plan, measurements, itemised quote and schedule of works free of charge with any enquiry, within 24 hours. That is everything a Premier League Stadium Fund application needs. To be clear about our role: we provide the paperwork — we do not secure funding and have no influence over the decision.

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