The Scottish FA has launched Pitching In, a campaign to raise GBP 50m over the next five years to improve football facilities across the country.

“Pitching In is our commitment to lay new foundations for football’s future: a plan to work in partnership with public, private and charity sectors to address a significant shortfall in quality facilities,” the SFA said in a statement.

To start the ball rolling, the Scottish FA has made the first donation of GBP 5m following a record turnover of GBP 65m. This money is supposed to help grassroots and member clubs to make infrastructural improvements.

The SFA has identified three key pillars:

• The equalizer: Upgrading 75 existing changing facilities, making them more welcoming and accessible, particularly for girls, women and the para community.
• The comeback: Upgrading 50 existing synthetic turf pitches to improve an ageing estate across Scotland.
• The new signing: Building 40 brand-new synthetic turf pitches to increase the number of high-quality facilities.

The Scottish FA will work in conjunction with the Scottish Football Partnership Trust and bring together association profits and government funding, along with philanthropic donations and sponsor and partner investment.

“We will contribute Scottish FA profits to the Pitching In facilities fund, working with partners to improve and increase the football estate, tackling the shortfall, enhance accessibility and increasing participation in our national sport.”

Mike Mulraney, Scottish FA President said: “When I became President, I made no secret of the fact that improving facilities at all levels should be the association’s No.1 priority.

“Pitching In is our commitment to that pledge. We all know the socio-economic challenges facing the country at local and national level and so we want to work in partnership to improve existing facilities and create them where there is need.

“This will increase participation, improve health and wellbeing and allow more people to experience the Power of Football.

“We have committed our profits this year to the facilities fund. We will also welcome contributions from the philanthropic and business communities through the Scottish Football Partnership Trust.

“The only way to address this alarming shortfall in quality pitches is by teamwork. We are grateful to the Department of Culture, Media and Sport and partners for supporting nearly 100 projects in Scotland over the past four years with GBP 42m and with a collective effort we can achieve so much more in the coming years.”

Ian Maxwell, Scottish FA Chief Executive: “The Power of Football inspires the nation and transforms lives. Through Pitching In, we can make a significant contribution to current and future generations by providing more places to play, and more spaces for girls and women, as well as the growing para football community, to feel welcomed when playing football.

“We are pleased to make the first donation to the facilities fund here today at Pollok United, a real example of a modern, inclusive club run by the community, for the community.

“Our aim is to support similar projects across the country to provide a lifelong involvement of football from fun-4s to walking footballers and everyone in between.”