A FURTHER £4million will be pumped into Welsh football thanks to the national team’s qualification for the World Cup.

The Football Association of Wales (FAW) confirmed the financial boost and insisted it would be invested in grassroots with chief executive Noel Mooney describing the current level of facilities as “particularly poor.”

Mooney said: “As we strive to create a leading football nation, it’s vitally important that the FAW and its funding partners step up and take full advantage of the opportunity that qualification for the World Cup presents us.

“Grassroots facilities for football across Wales are particularly poor and our key strategic objective is to tackle this now.

“We want to build grassroots clubs across Wales that act as wellness spaces for the community and to drive the Welsh football movement forward.

County Times: Rich Field, Brecon Corries FC.

Rich Field, Brecon Corries FC.

“We cannot do this without significant support from Welsh Government and Local Authorities but today we demonstrate our complete commitment to addressing the chronic issues in Wales’ grassroots football facilities to enable girls and boys to play football in decent conditions.”

The cash injection and chance to transform Welsh football was described as a “once in a generation chance to to improve the health and well being of the nation” according to FAW president Steve Williams.

County Times:

Recreation Ground, Caersws FC.

He said: “Improvement in our grassroots facilities is crucial to this so that football and other sports can continue to be successful in the future.

“We don’t want to wait another 64 years for a Welsh appearance at the World Cup.”

In May, the FAW announced the first phase of the Grassroots Facilities Fund programme with £3.2 million worth of work beginning on 47 projects across the country with further rounds to take place later in the summer.