LONDON FA LAUNCHES ‘PLAY FAIR. PLAY EQUAL.' TO MAKE FOOTBALL SAFER AND MORE ACCESSIBLE FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS!

The new London FA kitemark scheme aims to raise standards across grassroots football, with seven clubs and venues among the first to receive accreditation. The London FA has launched a new initiative designed to make grassroots football facilities across the capital safer, more accessible and more welcoming for women and girls. Called 'Play Fair. Play Equal.', the new kitemark scheme will recognise football clubs and venues that meet a set of essential standards around facilities, safety and fair access. The initiative comes as women's football continues to experience significant growth, with the London FA reporting that participation among women and girls has increased by 208% since 2020. However, research commissioned by the London FA suggests that many grassroots facilities have yet to catch up with that growth. What Is the 'Play Fair. Play Equal.' Kitemark? The new Play Fair. Play Equal. accreditation has been developed around feedback from women and girls who play football in London. The scheme focuses on some of the most basic requirements players say they need to feel comfortable and safe when taking part in the sport. These include: Female-specific toilet facilities Free access to sanitary products Safe and well-lit facilities Access to changing facilities Fair access to peak-time training and playing slots for women and girls The London FA hopes the kitemark will make it easier for players to identify clubs and venues that have committed to meeting these standards. The scheme is particularly focused on grassroots football, where facilities can vary significantly between locations. New Research Highlights Gaps in Football Facilities Research conducted as part of the initiative highlights some of the challenges still facing women and girls in grassroots football. Only 51% of women surveyed said they can always access toilets at football facilities, while 77% said they rarely or never have access to sanitary products. Meanwhile, 55% said they do not always or often have access to changing facilities. The importance of improving basic facilities was also clear, with 80% of women and girls surveyed identifying female toilets and access to sanitary products as some of the most important facilities clubs should provide. For players, these issues can become more than simply an inconvenience. Poor lighting, inadequate facilities and a lack of suitable changing spaces can all contribute to women and girls feeling uncomfortable or unsafe when participating. London FA Calls for Facilities to Catch Up With Women's Football Julia Cove-Smith, Chair of the London FA, said that grassroots facilities need to evolve alongside the rapid growth of the women's and girls' game. 'Too many women and girls are still being let down by the most basic standard of football facilities across the capital.' Cove-Smith highlighted the dramatic increase in participation since 2020, arguing that facilities have not always kept pace with the growing number of women and girls playing the sport. The London FA says the Play Fair. Play Equal. kitemark is intended to provide clubs with a clear and achievable pathway towards improving their facilities rather than simply highlighting shortcomings. Funding could also help clubs make the necessary changes. Through the Lionesses HERe to Play Fund, clubs can apply for grants of up to £25,000 to improve facilities for female players. You can find out more about the fund through the Football Foundation. Seven London Clubs and Venues Receive Initial Accreditation Seven clubs and football venues have already achieved the first London FA Approved status under the new scheme. The initial accredited locations are: Chislehurst Glebe FC Crayford Arrows Football Club AFC Greenwich Borough at GB10 Sports Ground Goals Beckenham Goals Eltham Market Road Football Pitches Regent's Park Each of the first seven sites will receive a commemorative plaque recognising their commitment to improving standards for women and girls. Brett Smith, Director at AFC Greenwich Borough at GB10 Sports Ground, said the club was delighted to be among the first facilities recognised by the London FA. The club says its focus is on ensuring its pitches and facilities are safe, accessible and welcoming to everyone in the local community. The Gym Group Backs New Football Kitemark The initiative is also being supported by The Gym Group, which has become a sponsor of the Play Fair. Play Equal. kitemark. Catherine Ferma, Operations Director at The Gym Group, said the company was proud to support a programme designed to remove barriers to participation in sport. The Gym Group will also work with the London FA by offering expertise from its trainers and its Female Health First programme. The partnership is intended to help the newly accredited venues create a more supportive environment for female players and encourage greater participation. London FA Targets 100 Accredited Venues by the End of 2026 The London FA has set an ambitious target for the initiative, aiming to have at least 100 clubs and venues signed up to the Play Fair. Play Equal. kitemark by the end of 2026. For grassroots football, improving facilities could play an important role in ensuring the continued growth of the women's and girls' game. The success of the England Lionesses has helped drive unprecedented interest in women's football, but ensuring that enthusiasm translates into long-term participation requires investment at every level of the game. Initiatives such as this aim to address some of the everyday barriers that can determine whether someone feels able and comfortable to continue playing. Verge Magazine has previously covered initiatives designed to increase access to football for women and girls, including Bloomsbury Football's 'No Backseats' campaign and Gabby Logan's work with Bloomsbury Football Foundation. How Can Clubs Apply for the Play Fair. Play Equal. Kitemark? Clubs and venues interested in achieving Play Fair. Play Equal. accreditation can apply through the London FA's official application process. Apply for the Play Fair. Play Equal. kitemark With a target of 100 accredited sites by the end of the year, the London FA hopes the scheme will become a lasting part of grassroots football across the capital — helping create facilities where women and girls can play, train and compete safely and equally.