Lionesses star Millie Bright is among the players whose grassroots beginnings are being spotlighted as the Premier League, The FA and Government’s Football Foundation celebrates the impact of its funding on grassroots pitches, the first pitches where the journeys of many England internationals and Premier League stars first began.

25 years ago, a unique partnership between the Premier League, The FA and Government formed the Football Foundation. Thanks to the ongoing support of funding partners, the Foundation has invested over £1billion towards achieving this goal, delivering the grassroots sports facilities that communities up and down the country need and deserve.

The first pitches where the journeys of many England internationals, WSL and Premier League stars first began are being celebrated. 

Bright began her football journey with Killamarsh Dynamos in Sheffield before rising through the ranks to captain England and Chelsea. Killamarsh Dynamos is among the many grassroots clubs to benefit from investment through the Football Foundation, with £100,000 of funding supporting improvements to grass pitches at the club. One of the upgraded pitches has since been named the Millie Bright Pitch, recognising the defender’s remarkable journey from a local grassroots player in Sheffield to competing on the international stage, where she was part of England’s UEFA Women’s EURO 2022-winning squad and later captained the Lionesses to the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup Final.

Lioness and Chelsea defender Millie Bright said: “Grassroots football is where it all started for me. Playing at Killamarsh Dynamos in Sheffield gave me the chance to fall in love with the game. It’s brilliant to see the Football Foundation is helping others do the same by providing the support to create new and improve existing facilities, like the ones in Sheffield. 

Robert Sullivan, Chief Executive of the Football Foundation, added: “Many of the Lionesses kick-started their journey to the international stage on facilities that have been improved thanks to funding from the Premier League, The FA and Government’s Football Foundation’s.

“Journeys like Millie’s show just how important grassroots investment is for every player, every pitch, and every community across the country. From grants for 3G pitches and changing facilities, to grass pitch improvements and goalposts, we want to ensure every community has a great place to play.”

Every football journey starts on a first pitch. For Millie Bright that first pitch was at Killamarsh Dynamos. To celebrate 25 years of the Football Foundation, share a photo of where your football journey began using #FirstPitches. 

Find out more here or follow @footballfoundation on Instagram.