Goalpost Safety Scheme
The aim of the scheme is to replace goals which fail to meet the British Standards safety requirements. It also aims to provide funding for new goals to ensure that all goals purchased for grassroots football meet British Standards EN 748 and 8462.
Goals the scheme targets for replacement:
• Goals made before 1996 (before British Standards were produced)
• Goals with metal cup hooks on posts and crossbars
• Wooden goalposts
• Freestanding goalposts
• Mini-Soccer goals which have parts missing
• Rusted goalposts
Free standing training goals are not eligible.
All goals must comply, be tested and certified to BSEN748 and BS8462. They must also meet The FA's Guidance Notes Parts 1 and 2.
Goalposts include delivery, nets and where appropriate weights and bags.
Grant ceiling
An individual grant cannot exceed 50% of the cost of a pair of goals up to a ceiling of £3,000. An applicant (such as a local authority) may apply for up to a maximum of 10 grants.
Eligibility criteria
Who can apply?
Applications are welcome from FA affiliated clubs, local authorities, schools (that demonstrate commitment to football and FA Charter Standard), local community groups and clubs in the National League System Step 7 and below. Clubs in Steps 3 - 6 of the National League System can apply for replacement goals for their U18 youth teams. This applies where the under-18s team does not use the same pitch as the Club’s first team.
Who cannot apply?
Professional clubs including their Academies and Centres of Excellence; clubs that do not have an open membership policy, clubs in the National League System Steps 1 and 2 and commercial operators are all ineligible to apply.
The Foundation does not fund retrospectively and will not consider applications for goals which are ordered or purchased before an offer of grant aid has been made.
The process
Step 1
Download application and return completed copy to the County FA Headquarters. If you are wishing to replace a set of unsafe goalposts photographic evidence of the goalposts that you are wishing to replace will be required.
Step 2
County FA if application is complete & meets scheme will support the application locally and send off to the Football Foundation for final approval.
Step 3
The Football Foundation confirms grant success or failure directly with applicant, informing the applicant that they can purchase the new goalposts or inform them what is needed for the application to be approved.
Step 4
Once purchasing the new goalposts, the organisation then claims its 50% grant from the Football Foundation.