€250,000 funding allocated to support FAI Club Mark clubs

The Football Association of Ireland is delighted to announce that a further €250,000 of funding has been allocated to support FAI Club Mark grassroots clubs with facility development in 2024.

The funding will look to support FAI Club Mark accredited clubs with their facility development plans as the programme continues to underpin the progression of the grassroots game across the country.

The additional funding must be used to make clubs more female friendly and will include an action plan to improve access for female teams and the clubs’ own participation growth targets.

This new funding will be allocated to FAI Club Mark clubs with all clubs in Ireland being urged to register for the FAI Club Mark. The FAI Club Mark programme, which this year announced Circle K as their title sponsor, aims to provide clubs with a road map to good governance, reward clubs for achieving and maintaining high standards, recognise clubs for their commitment to kids football and the game for women and girls generally and help grow football in communities across the whole of the country.

“We’re delighted to announce further funding into the FAI Club Mark programme for 2024 following Board approval this week,” said FAI Grassroots Director Ger McDermott.

“Facility development is the number one objective in the six core pillars developed in our Strategic Plan for 2022-2025, and further outlined in the Facility Investment Vision and Strategy earlier this year.

“With the increased participation numbers across the country in football for women and girls in particular, it is vital we support clubs in making their facilities female-friendly and proactively support their entry into and their continued participation in the grassroots game.”