A GRANT awarded to Workington Reds Ladies has provided a much-welcome boost for football in the town.

The Premier League, the FA and the UK Government’s Football Foundation has awarded a £500 grant to the side.

Workington Reds Ladies will use the funds to support them in adapting to Covid-19 restrictions, enabling them to restart competition in a safe environment.

The grant, made possible thanks to funding from Sport England and The FA, comes as part of an investment of more than £16 million made to help clubs prepare for the restart of grassroots football following the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions.

Ben Snowdon, Cumberland FA CEO commented “We’re delighted to hear that Workington Reds Ladies FC have been awarded a Football Foundation grant to support the team to return to the pitch following the return to play.

"The Reds Ladies were great sports during the virtual CFA Race to Wembley during February, with the players and management part of more than 700 others from the grassroots football community who walked, ran and cycled to Wembley Stadium in 16 days.

"Although the challenge brought everyone together, there’ll be no better feeling than getting back on the pitch with your team-mates.”

Brian Heywood, manager of Workington Reds Ladies said: “The past 12 months have been more stop than start for the Ladies so to be awarded this grant to help us provide a safe environment for all the players is a welcome boost and will help them return back to playing the sport they love.

“We are extremely grateful to the Football Foundation for awarding us this and also our local County FA for helping us throughout the pandemic.”

Robert Sullivan, chief executive of the Football Foundation, said: “This grant award to Workington Reds Ladies FC is vital for the local community in Workington as they get back to playing football. Our Return to Football fund is supporting clubs across the country, helping them to kick-start our national game again locally and try to recover from the effects of Covid-19.”

“This is part of our wider ambition to transform our grassroots game and unlock the power of pitches, something we hope to get back to in full force as restrictions are lifted.”

The Return to Football Fund, made up of £2.1 million, is directly targeted at the clubs and groups most impacted by Covid-19 restrictions. Visit footballfoundation.org.uk for more information.