The grant from the Football Foundation, the country's largest sports charity, will allow Newark Town FC to enter an Under 21 team in the H-K-L North Midlands Development League and an Under 18 team in the Notts Youth League for the forthcoming season.

The Premier League and The FA fund the Grow the Game scheme with £1.5m, which is delivered by the Football Foundation. The scheme is designed to increase participation in our national game by helping clubs to meet the essential costs of starting new teams.

The key strength of Grow the Game is that its participation increases are sustainable rather than transient. Its grants create a solid infrastructure of teams and newly-trained coaches in which new people can start playing the sport, rather than simply providing temporary activity sessions, which are then vulnerable to drops in participation once the programme ends.

This year sees a particular emphasis placed on increasing the number of teams and players from the Under-15 age bracket and above, to address the decline in participation that has traditionally occurred as young people leave school and college. The other key focus is on growing the numbers of girls’, women’s and disability teams.

Mr Dave Roberts, Director of Newark Town FC said: “This is a significant step for Newark Town FC and will help bridge the gap between a successful junior section and the Saturday men’s teams. On behalf of the club I would like to thank the Football Foundation for their support without which this development would not be possible.”

Paul Thorogood, Chief Executive of the Football Foundation, said: “Grow the Game has become one of the Foundation’s most popular schemes. This additional funding provided by the Premier League and The FA is excellent news for grassroots clubs seeking to start new teams and get their volunteer coaches qualified with FA coaching badges.

“Congratulations to Newark Town FC for working with the Nottinghamshire FA to secure their £3,000 Grow the Game grant which will increase participation in the region as well as support football development in the area.”