TORPOINT Athletic AFC have been awarded a £3,000 Pitch Preparation Fund grant from the Premier League, the FA and the Government’s Football Foundation.

The Pitch Preparation Fund was set up in support of the game, which is currently facing unprecedented challenges because of the COVID-19 outbreak.

The Fund is providing grants to clubs that have lost out on normal revenue streams during this difficult period.

The funding will enable Torpoint to prepare their football pitches so that they are match-fit for when it is safe to play football again, following Government advice.

They can use their grant towards helping pay for the cost of materials, work such as verti-draining, over-seeding, fertilising, weed-killing, and routine preparatory work such as grass cutting and the setting out and line-marking of pitches.

Clubs and other organisations are also being given access to the Football Foundation Groundskeeping Community.

This is a free online resource the Foundation developed with The FA and the Grounds Management Association, containing advice and guidance. Anyone in Torpoint can sign up at https://thefa.hivelearning.com/groundskeeping.

Bill Booth, chairman of Torpoint AFC, said: ‘We are really pleased to be able to take up this opportunity of Football Foundation funding towards helping us prepare our facilities for the return of local football.

‘In these unusual times, initiatives like this are vital in helping us get back to normal and ready to contribute to the local community.’

Millbrook and Bodmin Town have also received grants from the Pitch Preparation Fund.