Cheshire West and Chester Council, and Cheshire FA, have been awarded a £735,395 grant from the Premier League, The FA and Government’s Football Foundation to build a new 3G pitch to help turbocharge women’s and girls’ football in Northwich. 

The new pitch at Moss Farm Leisure Complex will be one of at least 30 set to benefit from The Lionesses Futures Fund – a £30 million cash injection from the Government and The FA delivered by the Football Foundation. The pitches celebrate the Lionesses roaring to victory at the 2022 UEFA EUROs and their achievement of making the final at FIFA World Cup 2023 and will help meet the growing demand for women’s and girls’ football. 
 
Since the Lionesses lifted the trophy in 2022, 68,000 more girls are playing football compared to before the tournament. However, too often, badly lit pitches, unsuitable changing facilities and late-night kick-off times put women and girls off taking to the pitch.

Each Lionesses Futures Fund site will prioritise access for women and girls through reserved peak-time slots and welcoming changing facilities to create a best-in-class experience.

Moss Farm’s existing football facilities have been supporting women and girls’ football in the area for over 20 years, providing a high-quality venue for females of all ages and abilities to start, or continue, their journey in the game. The creation of a second top-level artificial playing surface will enhance and increase the facilities available to women and girls across Cheshire, which will in turn allow the female game to grow stronger in the coming years.

This project has also been supported by an additional £407,950 from Cheshire West and Chester & Cheshire FA.

Steve Smithies, Cheshire FA CEO, said: “We are thrilled and deeply grateful to have received this grant funding from the Football Foundation in partnership with Cheshire West and Chester Council. This investment for a second 3G playing surface at Moss Farm represents a significant step forward in our aim to empower women and girls through football. By providing additional space for training and development, we aim to inspire the next generation of female athletes and create opportunities for them to excel both on and off the pitch. We look forward to seeing the positive impact this facility will have on the local community and the future of women's football.”

David Edmunds, Cheshire FA Chair, added: “Cheshire FA have been at the forefront of female football development and progression for many years, and this investment from the Football Foundation is a tremendous boost which will allow us to take our commitment to new heights. We are most grateful for this exceptional grant. Onwards and upwards!”

Councillor Louise Gittins, Leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council, said: “This is great news for Moss Farm, Northwich and for football players across the borough. Thanks to the Football Foundation grant, we will see a huge boost for women and girls, increasing the opportunities for everyone inspired by the fantastic success of the Lionesses.”

Robert Sullivan, CEO of the Football Foundation, said: “The Lionesses Futures Fund builds on the Football Foundation’s biggest ever commitment to providing equal access to grassroots facilities for women and girls.

“Over 8,500 women’s and girls’ football teams were playing at sites that have benefitted from Football Foundation funding last season, whether that be for new goalposts, improved grass pitches or brand-new changing pavilions and 3G pitches. 

“Thanks to the funding from the Premier League, The FA and Government, we’re delivering 30 pitches like this across the country to support the growing demand for football we’ve seen following the Lionesses’ inspirational success.”

Click here to find out more about the Lionesses Futures Fund