PwC to kick off soccer 'Doomsday book'

Funded by the Football Foundation, the project will create a database that will be used to ensure its funds are spent where investment is most needed.

The foundation, which is sponsored by the Football Association, the FA Premier League and the government, has an annual budget of £45m. It is spearheading the attack in revitalising the game’s grass roots – investing in school and park pitches and other facilities.

To be known as the Register of English Football Facilities, the database will be used to identify the quality, quantity and demand for facilities in every part of the country. It will also highlight hotspots and areas where standards do not come up to scratch.

The register will be used as a blueprint for other sports.

Barry Gilbertson, the partner captaining the PwC team, said: ‘This study is much more than just a register of football facilities. Our role is to provide football’s key stakeholders with a detailed audit of every football facility in the country and in doing this we will develop an interactive database on which all the details will be registered.

‘This will be available to all stakeholders and provide an analysis of gaps in the quality and quantity of provision, thus accurately identifying where and upon what funding should be spent.

‘Once the register is complete, we are challenged with helping all those involved with the sport to develop their own football facilities strategy into a common format and then co-ordinating these plans into a national strategy for the development of football facilities.

‘The ongoing life and regular updating of the register on the web will be an important element of the overall strategy.’

FA national game director Steve Parkin said:’The register will be the Doomsday Book of English football.’

PwC will be playing alongside sports specialist PMP Consultancy and Country Surveyors.

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