groundgrading.co.uk
Everything you need to know about National Leagues
System FA & League Ground Grading
PREPARATION (Steps 5 & 6)
for your ground grading inspection.
1
Download the appropriate Grading Document from the previous page. For Step 5 you will need Grade 5, but you absolutely need to also see what is required for Grade 4 in order to help future proof your ground for any promotion to Step 4. The big differences are the infilled pitch perimeter barrier, dressing room size requirements, Boardroom, Ground WC's, covered accommodation and turnstiles. For a new entrant at Step 5 you will need to achieve Grade 5 by March 31st in your first season.
At Step 6, Grade 6 is required. If you are a new entrant from Step 7 then floodlights (if not already installed) should have planning permission and funding available, so they can be installed as soon as possible.
All grounds need to pass the relevant Grade every 3 years, unless the club is promoted, when a new Grade will need to be achieved.
2
Your League will contact you to let you know that a formal inspection is due. There should always be a minimum of 2 Inspectors for the arranged visit and a competent person from the club must be in attendance with keys for access to all parts of the ground, inside and out. Every inspection visit costs the club money, so you don't want the Inspectors having to return on another day because the keys to say, the lavatories or Match Officials room cannot be found or are not available. Inspectors need to see everything and may also need to hear the tannoy in use (Grade F). Access will be needed to the turnstile/paybox, clubhouse, dressing rooms, WC's, etc, so when the inspection is arranged ensure that facilities are not already booked out. Inspectors will always try to work around training sessions and or day fixtures that are going on, but access to everything will always be needed.
4
When the inspection is booked, make sure you have plenty of time available on the day. Inspectors can often be visiting up to 3 grounds in one day, so early and late arrivals are to be expected depending on traffic conditions and any particular issues encountered at a previous ground. If you wish to walk around all the facilities with the Inspectors, that is normally fine but be prepared for Inspectors to need some privacy to discuss any issues arising. Before the inspection team leave the ground they should run through with you all the issues they have identified as needing attention. Listen very carefully to this and if necessary ask them to show you exactly where in the ground they are talking about and what ideas they may have for you to solve the problem satisfactorily.
5
You should receive a written report from your League within about a week from the inspection. This will then become your definitive checklist of jobs to do. If you have not received it, chase them up. (Currently The FA lead the inspections from Step 4 and above, but this will change in the near future). You have until March 31st in the season of your inspection to be fully compliant. This includes; doing all the work, having a second inspection and having it recommended for a Grade pass by the inspection team. For minor items, the team may suggest that photographs of the rectified issues are all that is required and not a second inspection. This though is a time limited option only.
6
Failure to comply with your Ground Grading inspection report by 31st March will result in recommendation to fail the Grade. This recommendation may lead to the club being relegated to a level where the facilities do comply or removal from the National Leagues System.
As as Consultant I will always consider taking on such an appeal - if I have not done the inspection.
