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The FA and the Premier League to launch new
              Stadium Accreditation Programme for the
                                2023/24 season

       The  FA  and  the  Premier  League  will  be  joining  forces  from  July  2023  to  launch  a  new
       Stadium Accreditation Programme for clubs that play in the National League System.

       Following an 18-month period of consultation and extensive research with key stakeholders
       across the game, it has been agreed that from this summer, the Premier League Stadium
       Fund will begin collecting ground-grading data for The FA at all of the stadiums used within
       the National League System.
       The  process  will  be  digitised  for  the  first  time  since  the  ground-grading  process  was
       introduced over 15 years ago through the creation of a new digital tool, StadiumPower.

       StadiumPower will enable The FA to have a holistic view of the quality of facilities across the
       game for the first time and will be better placed to understand some of the challenges that
       both clubs and leagues face nationwide.
       For the Premier League Stadium Fund, StadiumPower will provide far greater insight about
       stadiums which will help ensure the League’s investment is directed where it is needed the
       most. The new digital process will also allow clubs to keep track of the works required to
       their  facility,  as  well  as  provide  them  with  a  live  platform  to  report  on  any  changes  or
       improvement works that are carried out at their stadium.
       The rollout of the new programme will begin in July with the aim of assessing every stadium
       across the country by the end of the year. More details on the rollout plan of the new process
       and when each stadium will be visited will be shared with clubs and leagues over the coming
       weeks.
       Laurence Jones, The FA’s Head of the National League System, said: “Ground grading is an
       important touch point between clubs, leagues and The FA, and is an area of the National
       League System that we have been looking to make enhancements on for some time. This
       project  will  enable  the  modernisation  of  the  monitoring  and  compliance  of  the  ground-
       grading process and it will provide the opportunity to take a strategic approach to facility
       development in the NLS.”
       Mark Harris, The FA'S Ground Grading Sub-Committee Chairman said "We thank the Premier
       League Stadium Fund for taking on the important role of developing and administering the
       new Stadium Accreditation Programme, and having consulted with and presented to the NLS
       Leagues, they gave their unanimous support.”
       Robert Sullivan, Chief Executive of the Football Foundation that delivers the Premier League
       Stadium Fund said: “This is a really exciting opportunity for the Premier League Stadium
       Fund, and we are delighted to be working closely with The FA on this project.
       “From the research we carried out in 2021, modernising and digitising the ground-grading
       process was something that was raised regularly by clubs. By assuming responsibility for this
       work, not only can we ensure that Stadium Accreditation is carried out in an independent
       and consistent way, but it will also ensure  that we are directing  the funding where it  is
       needed most.”
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