FOOTBALL Foundation ambassador Hayley McQueen has announced £1.5million of funding, designed specifically for grassroots clubs to start new teams and qualify more coaches to cater for under-represented groups, is set to open for applications.

The Grow the Game scheme is designed to increase participation in our national game by helping clubs with the costs associated with creating new teams, which will give opportunities to those who have limited options to join a team.

Funded by the Premier League and The Football Association, Grow the Game is delivered by the Football Foundation, the nation’s largest sports charity.

The fund will boost playing opportunities for three specific sections of society for whom the opportunities to play football have always been traditionally limited.

These are: women and girls teams; disabled players; and male teams of under 14s and upwards.

Applications are only being accepted for teams within the three target groups, providing they meet the basic eligibility criteria.

A grant of £1,500 is available for each new team that a club creates with the grants, the amount is aimed at covering the costs incurred for league entry, referees’ fees, first aid kits, FA coaching courses, football kits and more.

Applications were invited from February 1 and close on Thursday, March 10.

Clubs seeking more information should contact Surrey, Sussex or Hampshire FA or visit www.footballfoundation.org.uk

The Football Foundation has supported more than 14,000 grassroots projects worth more than £1.3billion since 2000. Grow the Game began in 2010 and last year helped form some 2,000 new teams in the UK.