The Football Foundation will distribute a further £1.5m to clubs which are committed to increasing the number of women and members of other under-represented groups playing football in England.

The Growing the Game project will help clubs meet the costs of expanding the range of teams they operate – in order to cater for players whose opportunities to join suitable teams are limited.

Funded by the English Premier League and The Football Association, the fund will boost playing opportunities for women and girls; disabled players; and male teams of under-14s and older.

For each new team that a club creates, £1,500 of funding will be made available, with the grants aimed at covering the costs incurred for league entry, referees’ fees, first aid kits, FA coaching courses and football strips.

The Growing the Game initiative was first launched in 2010.

For more information:

• The application window for Grow the Game applications will open on Wednesday 7 January 2015 and close on Wednesday 18 February 2015.

• Applications are only being accepted for teams created for the three target groups

For more information on Grow the Game click here.