People living in Ravenshead are set to benefit from a fresh investment into local football facilities.

Ravenshead Parish Council and Ravenshead Football Club have been awarded a grant from the Premier League, The FA and the Government’s Football Foundation to install fencing around the Arena pitch at Ravenshead Leisure Centre.

The Football Foundation is the UK’s largest sports charity and exists to improve the experience of playing football for everyone, by championing fair access to quality facilities.

This grant will enable Ravenshead FC, which plays in the Nottingham Senior League and East Midlands Veterans League, to improve its Arena pitch facilities.

The council said players would be able to enjoy a safe, enclosed environment, which will represent a significant improvement on the existing open space that is prone to damage and litter.

The parish council and football club worked with the Football Foundation and the Nottinghamshire FA to secure a £25,000 grant towards the project.

Ravenshead FC said: “Without the help of the Football Foundation and Ravenshead Parish Council this wouldn’t have been possible, and it will give us a safer environment where we can grow and develop.”

Robert Sullivan, chief executive of the Football Foundation, said: “This grant award to Ravenshead FC and Parish Council towards developing perimeter fencing around the Arena pitch is great news for the local community.

“It will support people’s ability to play our national game locally and, therefore, help unlock football’s many benefits to physical and mental wellbeing.

“This is why we’re committed to transforming the face of grassroots football facilities in this country. It’s very welcome news to hear that this funding will support Ravenshead Parish Council and Ravenshead FC in developing boundary fencing at Ravenshead Leisure Centre for their local community.

“The Football Foundation is working closely with our partners — the Premier League, The FA, the government and Sport England — to support facility development projects like this across the country over the next decade to transform our grassroots game and unlock the power of pitches.”

The Foundation receives money from the Premier League, The FA and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport, through Sport England. This is matched with partnership funding and awarded as grants to create outstanding grassroots facilities that enable better games and attract more players, helping to transform communities. Visit footballfoundation.org.uk for more information.