Pitch funding fillip for Chaddy, but manager departs

Chadderton FC has been awarded a £1,500 Pitch Preparation Fund grant from the Premier League, The FA and the Government's Football Foundation.

The Pitch Preparation Fund was set up in support of the game, which is currently facing unprecedented challenges because of the COVID-19 outbreak.

The fund is providing grants to clubs that have lost out on normal revenue streams during this difficult period.

The money will enable North West Counties League outfit Chaddy to prepare their football pitches so that they are match-fit for when it is safe to play football again, following Government advice.

They can use their grant towards to help pay for the cost of materials, work such as verti-draining, chain harrowing, rolling, over-seeding, fertilising, weed-killing, and routine preparatory work such as grass cutting and the setting out and line-marking of pitches.

Clubs and other organisations are also being given access to the Football Foundation Grounds keeping Community.

This is a free online resource the Foundation developed with The FA and the Grounds Management Association, containing advice and guidance.

Anyone in the Chadderton or Oldham area can sign up at: https://thefa.hivelearning.com/groundskeeping

Bob Sopel, Chadderton FC Chairman, said: "This grant is a vital financial boost to enable our club to maintain a high standard playing surface.

"It compliments the hard work of our ground staff during pre-season."

Robert Sullivan, Interim Chief Executive of the Football Foundation, said: "This is a vital grant to help Chadderton FC to get their pitches match-fit.

"The Premier League, The FA and Government's Football Foundation exists to help provide quality infrastructure at the lower-levels of the game.

"Pitch Preparation Fund grants like this one are giving a helptng hand to clubs across the country to get their playing surfaces ready for when the game is allowed to begin again following government advice."

The Football Foundation is a charity funded by the Premier League, The FA and the Government, through Sport
England.

Meanwhile, Chaddy manager David Fish, along with his assistant Lee Ashworth, have left the club to take over the reins at local rivals Mossley.

A new first-team manager will be appointed shortly.

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