Football: Finance

Mr. Andrew Smith
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what funding his Department has allocated to support youth development and training at non-league football clubs in the last 12 months.

Mr. Sutcliffe
[holding answer 30 March 2010]: In the last financial year Sport England has provided funding of £7,851,278 to the Football Association (FA) to increase participation, rates of retention and strengthen talent pathways for women and girls and disability players.

In addition, approximately £6 million was committed through the Physical Education Sport Strategy for Young People Programme; community club facilities; clubs development, coach development; FA skills and 16-18 retention programmes.

Sport England also allocates £15 million Exchequer funding a year to the Football Foundation. Part of this funding will support the youth development in community football clubs.