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MIKE WOOD MP CHAMPIONS GRASSROOTS FOOTBALL IN DUDLEY SOUTH AS PART OF THE FA'S #FOOTBALLFOOTPRINT CAMPAIGN

Local MP Mike Wood Visits Grassroots Football Facility In His Constituency As Part Of The Football Association's #FootballFootprint Campaign.

LOCAL MP MIke wood visits grassroots football facility in his constituency as part of the football association's #footballfootprint campaign and receives grassroots champion award from birmingham fa.

Mike Wood, MP for Dudley South, visited the state-of-the-art 3G pitch at Dell Stadium on Sunday 27 January to learn more about how FA and Birmingham County FA investments are widening grassroots participation, supporting player development and improving facilities in the local community.

During the visit, Mike met with budding young footballers from the Stourbridge and District Youth Football League, as well as some of the dedicated staff and volunteers who keep the grassroots game going each week. He also shadowed a Birmingham County FA Welfare Officer, who was carrying out some of the County FA’s safeguarding compliance activity on the day.

In recognition of his support for grassroots football in Dudley South, members of the Birmingham County FA team, including Directors Sandra Hampton and Holly Murdoch, presented Mike with The FA’s Grassroots Champion award.

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This visit was part of the new #FootballFootprint campaign which is being run by The FA, the not-for-profit national governing body for the game in England, in conjunction with local County FAs. The campaign is giving MPs an opportunity to meet with the army of workers and volunteers that make grassroots football possible at a local level and to visit showcase sites, initiatives and matches.

Mike Wood MP said: “On Sunday I returned to the Dell Stadium’s 3G pitch, nearly a year after its official opening, to see just how much it has benefitted our football-loving community. It was brilliant to meet some of the hundreds of players that enjoy training and playing there each week, as well as the dedicated staff and volunteers that make that possible. Investment in grassroots sport for all ages and abilities is absolutely essential and it is great to see first-hand the difference it has made to the lives of local people here in Dudley South.”

Kevin Shoemake, Chief Executive of Birmingham County FA, added: “We were delighted to show Mike some of the brilliant work being done to support grassroots football. In the last nine years alone, over £12 million has been invested into football facilities within the County FA boundary, which in turn supports the 1,200 clubs with over 4,600 teams that play the game in a safe and fun environment across the county each week.

“Grassroots football not only develops sporting talent and helps people to stay fit and healthy, it also brings the community together and it is brilliant to have Mike’s support as we aim to increase participation within the county even further.”