The Government has set out plans to support the next generation
of footballers in honour of the Three Lions' achievement of
reaching the UEFA EURO 2024 final against Spain last night.
This follows the recent high profile achievements of the
Lionesses who took home the UEFA EURO 2022 trophy, and reached
the final in last year's FIFA Women's World Cup.
To mark the achievements of our senior men's and women's teams,
and inspire the next generation as we look ahead to hosting UEFA
EURO 2028 across the UK and Ireland, the Government has set out
plans to strengthen its support for grassroots football clubs and
ensure that all children have access to sports at school.
This will help to ensure talent thrives wherever it is found and
support a healthier nation - aligning with the missions to break
down barriers to opportunity and build an NHS fit for the
future.
Prime Minister said:
...“The Three Lions and the Lionesses have brought the nation so
much joy over the last years. The men's team have excited and
gripped us all with their talent and determination in never
giving up. “Playing each …
… are breaking down the barriers to opportunity which stops the
new generation of footballers from taking to the field and will
celebrate those who keep the beautiful game alive in our
communities and clubs."
Culture Secretary said:
“The whole country is incredibly proud of England's performance
at Euro 2024 in reaching the final and we congratulate Spain as
winners. The Three Lions have once again been a huge inspiration
for our future lions and lionesses.
“We will make sure that the legacy of recent successes are
genuinely felt in communities, far and wide across the country.
We're absolutely committed to making sure every child has access
to the sports they love both in schools and in grassroots clubs
to not just help uncover the next generation of stars but to help
create a healthier nation and change lives for the better.”
Grassroots football clubs are at the beating heart of communities
up and down the country. As we look forward from this moment to
EURO 2028, the Government will put these clubs front and centre
with a commitment to continued funding for grassroots
facilities.
High-quality, inclusive facilities help clubs to get more people
active and by backing these clubs, the Government will support
more people to get onto the pitch wherever they live.
The government will support the Football Association in their
ambition to double their number of gold-standard (3-star)
community clubs by the time the first ball is kicked at EURO 2028
in June of that year. These clubs represent the best of community
football - delivering more opportunities for women and girls and
disabled players to get on the pitch, as well as playing an
active role in local communities.
The Football Foundation will also be supported to continue their
Home Advantage Programme. The scheme will support the transfer of
the ownership and maintenance of grassroots football pitches
directly to hundreds of clubs and community organisations,
relieving the burden on local councils. This not only means
improved facilities and a better playing experience - it means
thriving community clubs which are inclusive and fit for the
future. The programme will be open to cricket, rugby union and
rugby league as well, spreading the benefits far beyond football.
The Government will work with football - including our Football
Foundation partners, the Football Association and Premier League
- to develop a funding package that will support these plans,
which will be set out in due course.
We will also celebrate the service and commitment of those who
keep grassroots football alive, and nurture the England stars of
the future. Without the coaches, referees, groundskeepers
and volunteers in grassroots football, there is no international
success and the Prime Minister will look to recognise their work
in the coming weeks and months.
The Government is also committed to protecting time for physical
education in schools. The upcoming expert-led review of the
curriculum will ensure that no child misses out on a broad range
of subjects, including PE and sport.
Another barrier to children's participation is often the need for
costly branded PE kit as part of a school's uniform policy.
Whilst school uniform can play a vital role in helping set an
appropriate tone for learning, instil a sense of belonging and
act as a social leveller, it is clear that for many families the
cost of school uniform, including PE kit, remains a financial
hardship.
Parents should not have to think about the cost of a school
uniform when choosing which school to apply for and no child
should be excluded or discouraged from taking part in PE because
they don't have the right kit.
The Government will also be taking action to legislate to limit
the number of items of branded uniform and PE kit that schools
can require, helping reduce costs for parents and removing
barriers to children accessing sport.
