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Football Foundation launches REFF website
The Football Foundation has published its Register of English Football Facilities (REFF), the most comprehensive record of grass roots football facilities in England.
The audit of more than 90 per cent of pitches and changing rooms in England by PricewaterhouseCoopers and PMP, allows the foundation to target funding in communities where facilities are in most need of improvement.
The survey revealed that 41 per cent of the 44,958 pitches surveyed needing drainage, while 38 per cent were without changing rooms. 41 per cent of respondents said that changing facilities required improvement.
Some areas, including Norfolk, Devon, Dorset and the Channel Islands, enjoy a consistently high standard of facilities, while some of the worst facilities were found in the East Riding region, where there was an average of of one pitch per 1,426 people. Other regions with poor facilities included Birmingham, Manchester and Staffordshire.
'This is a vital step towards identifying and rectifying areas that have been neglected,' said director of facility and stadia development for the Football Foundation, Geoff Webb. 'But it is just the start of a major investment process.' /p>
The public will be encouraged to monitor and update site information in their areas. Details: www.TheFA.com/grassroots