London FA Unveils ‘Play Fair. Play Equal’ to Make Pitches Safer for Women

• Over half of females who have played football say they do not always or even often have access to changing facilities

• New campaign by the London FA will highlight locations and clubs who meet dedicated criteria

• Seven clubs initially recognised with the first “PLAY FAIR. PLAY EQUAL” kitemarks

Women and girls playing grassroots football in London have been clear about what they need: female-only toilets, access to sanitary products, safe and well-lit facilities, and fair access to peak-time playing slots. These are not ambitious demands. They are basic standards. Yet over half of females who have played football say they do not always or even often have access to changing facilities

To help combat these issues, the London FA has today launched “Play Fair. Play Equal.” - a new kitemark scheme designed to help women and girls easily identify clubs and venues that meet essential standards for safety, facilities and fair access. To achieve accreditation, clubs and venues must meet a series of standards identified as essential by women and girls themselves through a London FA survey. These include providing female-specific toilet facilities, offering free sanitary products, ensuring facilities are well lit - particularly during the winter months - and guaranteeing fair access to peak-time training slots for women and girls.

The launch comes as research into the experiences of females playing the game showed that just 51% of women say they can always access toilets at football facilities, while 77% report they rarely or never have access to sanitary products. Over half (55%) say they do not always or often have access to changing facilities.

Perhaps most tellingly, 80% of woman and girls surveyed agreed that female toilets and access to sanitary products are some of the most important facilities that need to be available to them at clubs. In addition, safety remains a barrier to participation, with many football facilities across the capital not always creating a safe environment. Without accreditation, set criteria or third-party endorsement, it can be difficult to determine whether a facility is genuinely committed to creating a friendly and accessible environment for women and girls.

Julia Cove-Smith, London FA Chair said: ““Too many women and girls are still being let down by the most basic standard of football facilities across the capital. More than 50 years after The FA lifted its ban on women’s football, the women’s and girls’ game in London is thriving, with participation growing by 208% since 2020. Yet too many grassroots facilities across the county and in London still struggle to meet the basic needs of female players. The facilities simply haven’t kept pace with the growth of the game, and that has to change”

“The Play Fair. Play Equal. kitemark will serve as a clear and visible sign that a club or facility has met the minimum standards identified by women and girls themselves as essential to feeling welcome, safe and able to participate. Female players are asking for minimum standards to be met, and we feel it’s important that we meet clubs where they are and give them a clear, achievable pathway to make the improvements women and girls need.

“Through the Lionesses HERe to Play Fund, available from the Football Foundation, clubs can apply for grants of up to £25,000 to help improve facilities for female players. We want to use that funding to help more sites achieve the Play Fair. Play Equal. kitemark. Our message to clubs is simple: you may not meet every criterion yet, but with the right support and investment, we can help you get there.”

Nationwide, high value, low cost gym operator, The Gym Group, is a sponsor of the kitemark, aligning with its mission to break down barriers to fitness for all. Catherine Ferma, Operations Director at The Gym Group, said: “We are proud to sponsor the Play Fair, Play Equal kitemark programme, it is initiatives like these which help to further break down barriers to fitness and broaden access to sport. We look forward to working with the London FA, offering our expert trainers and Female Health First programme, and seeing how these kite mark sites will make an impact on female participation.”

As part of the launch of Play Fair. Play Equal., the first seven clubs/venues to achieve ‘London FA Approved’ status will receive a commemorative plaque, recognising their commitment to raising standards for female players.

The first accredited clubs and venues are:

• Chislehurst Glebe FC

• Crayford Arrows Football Club

• AFC Greenwich Borough at GB10 Sports Ground 

• Goals (Beckenham)

• Goals (Eltham)

• Market Road Football Pitches

• Regents Park

Brett Smith, Director at AFC Greenwich Borough at GB10 Sports Ground says, “We’re delighted to be recognised as one of the flagship facilities of the London FA’s ‘Play Fair. Play Equal.’ kitemark scheme. We pride ourselves on being active and involved with our community and that means making sure our site and our pitches are safe, accessible and available to women and girls across the area. Whether it’s our community events, training sessions or tournaments, we want to make sure that everybody feels welcomed, included and supported. Looking ahead, we’re committed to continuing our work, offering our incredible facilities to everybody in the borough and beyond”

By the end of 2026, the London FA aims to have at least 100 clubs and venues signed up to the kitemark, representing a long-term commitment to improving grassroots facilities and creating equal opportunities for women and girls to participate in football across the capital.

Clubs and venues wishing to apply for kitemark accreditation can do so here.

The link to more information about the Lionesses HERe to Play Fund can be found here: https://footballfoundation.org.uk/grant/lionesses-here-to-play-fund