Noel’s House Party is delivering some cheer in North Wales – but thankfully not on TV!

Grassroots football projects across Wales are to benefit from our nation’s own version of Noel’s House Party.

FAW chief executive Noel Mooney has welcomed with open arms phase one of a spending bonanza on Welsh sport initiatives.

Work has started on 47 grassroots football projects throughout Wales worth a total of £3 million.

And more money is on the way to support other schemes.

Over the summer and early autumn, the FAW will announce the next rounds of funding for grassroots football in Wales and set out how organisations can apply.

In the meantime, current North Wales initiatives underway in the first phase of the Football Association of Wales Grassroots Facilities Fund programme are:

Llysfaen Junior Football Club – upgrade concrete MUGA Banana Pitch – £51,200
Penmaenmawr Phoenix Football Club – upgrade all-weather playing field and floodlights with a multi-sport synthetic surface – £45,271
CPD Aberffraw – upgrade playing surface – levelling works at Cae Cynlas – £14,900
Penycae FC – ground maintenance equipment, tractor cutting deck combination groomer, attachment slitter, tines, brush and rear roller – £19,534
Brickfield Rangers FC – provision of female changing room and toilet facilities – £10,800
CPD Iau Y Fali – purchase of 4 mobile shelters for junior football at Parc Mwd – £9,332
Amlwch Town Football Club – ground maintenance equipment; new mower, line marker at Lon Bach – £7,000
Dolgellau Athletic Amateur Football Club – ground maintenance equipment – motor/tractor – £17,320
Bangor University – women’s changing room development at Treborth Playing Fields – £33,117
Cefn Community Council – upgraded playing surface of a floodlit community Multi Use Games Area (low maintenance carpet) at Plas Kynaston, Wrexham – £25,200
Wrexham Council – upgrade current all-weather pitch with 3G to serve school/club hub – part of the local plan. At Ysgol y Grango – £57,413
Wrexham Council – all-weather pitch to 3G to serve school club Hub – part of the local plan. Rhosnesni High School – £142,149
Ysgol Bryn Elian, Colwyn Bay – upgrade all-weather pitch to 3G to serve school club hub – £180,750
Wrexham Council – Construction of a Cruyff Court MUGA to provide a suitable facility for children and young people with disabilities St Christopher’s School – £78,547

TOTAL OUTLAY WALES = £2,977,723

TOTAL OUTLAY NORTH WALES = £692,533 (around 23% of the all-Wales first phase funding)

School projects are receiving the bulk of the north funding, but several football clubs have landed vital grants towards their development.

It is hoped more north clubs will apply when the next round of funding launches within the next three or so months.

And hopefully North Wales will receive a bigger slice this time around – but clubs must go through the application process!

The main categories of grant awards from the Grassroots Facilities Fund were:

• 33% on upgrading and creating changing facilities, particularly for women and girls.
• 18% on pitch improvements and drainage works.
• 15% on full sized 3G pitches as club hubs on education sites.
• 11% on small sized all weather training areas.
• 11% on pitch maintenance equipment.

The GFF was developed by the FAW and other stakeholder investors, including the Welsh Government, UK Government, Sport Wales, UEFA and FIFA.

The fund focuses on supporting the creation and development of facilities in Wales to achieve:
• A growth in participation in sport and recreational activity.
• Stronger and more stable community focused clubs, with more players across all ages and backgrounds.
• A particular focus on helping achieve the FAW’s target of doubling the women and girls’ game.

Football Association of Wales CEO Mr Mooney said: “We are grateful to see the Grassroots Facilities Fund already making an impact to our football family across the country.

“The initial round of funding marks the beginning of an exciting journey, and the FAW will continue to work closely with all of its stakeholders to create a facilities investment fund in order to deliver a number of impactful projects across all corners of Wales as we strive to make football inclusive and accessible to all.”

One of the FAW’s key strategic objectives of ‘Our Wales | Ein Cymru’ is to have inspirational and fit-for-purpose football facilities throughout the country. 

The association aspires to transform grassroots football and facilities across club, parks, and education sites via the Grassroots Facilities Fund.

WORLD CUP BOOST?

With the vast sums of money the Welsh FA will receive through the nation qualifying for its first World Cup since 1958, it is very much hoped some funds resulting from Qatar 2022 will trickle its way down to our grassroots game.

Mr Mooney has already stated this is a likely scenario.

Deal or No Deal, Noel? Deal please! The very best for Wales grassroots.