Funding could be awarded to improve football pitches in Worthing
Released: Thursday, 11 September 2025
Hundreds of thousands of pounds could be secured from the UK's largest sports charity to improve the football pitches at one of Worthing's most active green spaces.
Worthing Borough Council is partnering with Worthing United Youth Football Club to ensure the beautiful game continues to benefit the community at Hill Barn Recreation Ground.
By entering the Football Foundation's Home Advantage Programme, together with the football club we have the opportunity to access £250,000 of funding to enhance the grass pitches at the popular recreation ground.
The investment would enable the football club to purchase new grounds maintenance equipment to improve the quality of the playing surfaces at Hill Barn Recreation Ground, which are used by hundreds of children each week.
Should funding be awarded, Worthing United Youth FC would take over the management of the pitches, allowing the our parks team to focus on maintaining the many other sports grounds they are responsible for across the borough.
As part of the programme, a 25-year lease will be signed between ourselves and the football club, subject to formal agreement - further securing the site's future as a hub for children's football. The recreation ground will remain open to the public and all other users as normal, including for cricket.
Councillor Dom Ford, Worthing's cabinet member for communities, culture and leisure, said:
“I'm delighted that we're partnering with Worthing United Youth FC to ensure that local children can continue playing football at Hill Barn Recreation Ground long into the future.
“We're incredibly grateful for the Football Foundation's support, which could lead to £250,000 of funding to ensure young people can play on even better pitches for years to come.”
Jason Nicholls, the chairman of Worthing United Youth Football Club, said:
“This agreement will secure the future of youth football at Hill Barn Rec for years to come.
"We are very grateful to both the Football Foundation and Worthing Borough Council for helping us apply for this landmark funding, which will enable us to manage our own grass pitches and create a long-standing legacy for our young members.”
If we are successful in our application with Worthing United Youth FC, all of the award would go to the football club, while we would receive £25,000 separately to cover our costs to get the scheme in place.
Robert Sullivan, the CEO of the Football Foundation, said:
“The Football Foundation is working closely with our partners – the Premier League, the FA and the government – to unlock the power of pitches for more grassroots clubs and enable them to take pride and ownership in the place they call home.
“We know that local authorities often lack the resources to maintain their grass pitches to a high standard, and yet the process of transferring ownership is often seen as complicated, expensive and therefore unattractive.
“Through our Home Advantage Programme, the foundation plans to provide the support and funding needed to transfer over 1,750 grass football pitches, like the ones at Hill Barn Recreation Ground, from local authorities to grassroots clubs and organisations across the country.
“As well as a higher chance of success on the pitch, home grounds provide a space for people to come together through sport and help strengthen communities based on a shared sense of belonging.”
In recent months, young local players have been able to enjoy a new community clubhouse at Hill Barn Recreation Ground, which is being created by the football club following a donation of upcycled containers. We demolished the old pavilion, which was no longer fit for purpose, to make way for the new facility.
It's hoped that the programme will be delivered and active within 12 months.
Photos: Football pitches at Hill Barn Recreation Ground
Photo: Young footballers from Worthing United Youth FC at the new clubhouse opening day in July 2025
(PR25-066)
Page last updated: 12 September 2025