London FA Kicks Off ‘London For All’ Strategic Plan

London Football Association (London FA) has launched a new four-year strategic initiative, ‘London For All,’ aimed at enhancing grassroots football across the capital.

London FA serves as a cornerstone of grassroots football throughout London. With over 950 clubs, 5,500 teams, and 70,000 registered players, including 30,000 youth players and 650 players with disabilities, London FA is instrumental in promoting football as a key social and cultural activity across London.

The association has revealed its 2024-2028 vision and strategy, ‘London For All’, as well as a fresh, modernised brand it hopes will resonate and appeal to a new generation of football enthusiasts, as it embarks on a journey from regulator to a more externally focused service organisation.

The organisation’s new strategy is set out to complement the FA’s own Grassroots Football Strategy for 2024 – 2028, and aims to address five core elements:

– Improving playing choice and experience for all by embracing different football formats and providers. This includes the target to develop and grow disability football to over 900 participants, providing 79 new playing opportunity sessions.

– Deliver equal opportunities for women and girls to play by growing female participation to 12,970, including 215 new female casual playing opportunities.

– Build more and improve existing facilities by supporting the development of 9 new 3G pitches and improve the quality of 336 grass pitches.

– Tackle poor behaviour on and off the pitch by delivering high quality and more efficient discipline and safeguarding case management.

– Develop a valued network of volunteers, coaches, and referees by growing our match official pool to 1,444, our volunteer workforce to over 5,800, and our coaching workforce to over 5,360.

Paul Bickerton, CEO of London FA, said of the new strategy: “Based on the FA’s grassroots football framework, London For All is focused on tackling inequalities and uniting communities through football, especially as participation surges among women, girls, and players with disabilities.

“Our vision is to serve London’s grassroots football family, and by working with our wonderful army of volunteers and professional stakeholders, I sincerely believe this new strategic direction will help us inspire that positive change across our great capital city.”

Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London and Patron of the London FA, voiced his support for the new strategy, saying: “Grassroots football is the heartbeat of our communities, bringing people from all backgrounds together and fostering a sense of pride and unity across our city.

“I’m proud to support the London FA’s ‘London For All’ strategy, which is committed to making football more inclusive and accessible for everyone – regardless of age, gender, or ability. I’m delighted by the vision to build more and improve existing facilities, so key in enabling the sport to be more accessible to all Londoners.

“This initiative will make a real, positive difference in the lives of Londoners, strengthening the role of grassroots football in our capital and leaving a lasting legacy for future generations.”

To find out more about events in your area or to get involved with any London FA-affiliated clubs, visit www.londonfa.com