More grassroots football set for Rugby following £5k grant

Local people in Rugby, Warwickshire, celebrated a major sporting boost following a cash injection of £5,000 from the Football Foundation towards developing new football teams.

To help mark their award Deputy Mayor and local Councillor, Kathryn Lawrence, was on hand to present Rugby Town Junior Football Club with a large cheque. This grant will allow Rugby Town JFC to create an additional eight teams, including two girls’ teams, over a period of three years and will strengthen the club’s community activities in Rugby. 

Funded by the Premier League, The FA, and the Government via Sport England, the Football Foundation is the nation’s largest sports charity. Since it was launched in 2000, the Foundation has awarded around 8,000 grants worth more than £420m towards improving grassroots sport, which it has used to attract additional partnership funding of over £520m. Brian Crinigan, Secretary at Rugby Town Junior Football Club, said: “We are delighted to have been awarded a Grow the Game Grant from the Football Foundation. This scheme means that we can recruit and train new coaches, form new football teams and support them over a three year period with facility hire and equipment.”   

Deputy Mayor and local Councillor, Kathryn Lawrence, said: “Well done to Rugby Town JFC for their tremendous work within the Borough of Rugby. Football is the highest participative game for women, and with the Womens Olympic football being played at the Ricoh in 2012, I hope this new initiative will inspire local girls to aim high.”  

Chad Ehlertsen, Birmingham FA County Development Manager, said: “This is excellent news for Rugby Town JFC. This funding will provide positive investment into the growth and development of one of our flagship Charter Standard Community Clubs.” 

Paul Thorogood, Chief Executive of the Football Foundation, said: “This funding is excellent news for the Rugby area. Rugby Town JFC and the Birmingham County FA deserve credit their hard work in making this happen.”