"Almost 1 million people play football in one form or another around Australia and there are 150,000 volunteers who work in community clubs.

"We know that there are many clubs who can do with help to purchase or improve their existing facilities.

"Fundraising efforts of individual clubs - including the traditional sausage sizzle - are terrific, but we hope this new scheme may mean one less sausage to sizzle for a while!" said FFA CEO Ben Buckley.

The scheme, to be known as the Grassroots Football Facilities Fund, provides grants of $5,000 - $20,000 for projects that improve the quality, safety, reliability and accessibility of facilities for football and other sports in local communities.

"Grassroots football clubs have an important role in helping to build better communities, to strengthen local economies and to develop the skills of people involved with clubs, as well as meeting the needs of young people. 

"Clubs are often the key users of football parks and fields that are community assets which contribute to healthy lifestyles," Buckley said.

"The Grassroots Football Facilities Fund recognises the important role that sporting clubs have in our community and that clubs around the country need support in improving their facilities."

Buckley said that grants are available for one or a combination of initiatives such as the installation of rainwater tanks, improvements to drainage, enhancements to change rooms, field of play improvements and portable goals for use in Optus Small-Sided Football.

The grants will be available for two years over three funding rounds with a total funding limit of $20,000 per club.

The Grassroots Football Facilities Fund is made possible with funding support from the Federal Government. 

 Further information is available from myfootballclub.com.au.