Welsh football bosses reveal spending to improve facilities

The FAW-backed review looks at local clubs and local authorities – and other sporting bodies – in a survey of current facilities.

It highlighted a number of key areas of shortage versus demand, with only 43% of grass pitches designated as “poor” or “unclassified”, while 18 of 22 local areas were covered by artificial surfaces. Change facilities were also less.

With participation numbers hitting a new high of 120,000 registered players earlier this month, demand is expected to grow.

The FAW invests at the grassroots through the Cymru Football Foundation, which also receives funding from Sport Wales, the Welsh Government, the English Premier League as well as local partners.

But Mooney has long called for greater support from Cardiff Bay and, speaking to BBC Politics Wales on Sunday, expressed hope for fresh support from the new Plaid Cymru Welsh Government.

With sport now in charge of a senior minister – Plaid’s Haled Fychan – Mooney said: “This is something we’ve had a minister responsible for sport for a long time… It clearly means we need more funding for facilities.

“With 120,000 registered players in football now, our new strategy will see more and more grow – and we need great facilities to do that.

“We have an opportunity to reset how sport is funded in Wales and we are very confident that this Government will do just that.”

Mooney suggested appointing a minister for public and preventive health “could allow us to access resources that will help people do more sports.”

The Welsh Government said: “This Welsh Government is committed to working closely with governing bodies to expand access to sport and remove barriers.

“We will commission an audit of community and regional sports facilities and engage with key partners, including national governing bodies, to inform targeted capital investment over the Government term. Football facilities will be a key consideration in taking forward these commitments.”