A grass roots club has double the reason to celebrate with a cash boost in the same week as the return of Premier League matches.

Deal Town Rangers have been awarded a £5,000 Pitch Preparation Fund grant from the Premier League, The FA and the Government’s Football Foundation.

The Fund was set up to provide financial support to clubs that have lost out on normal revenue streams in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak.

The cash will enable Deal Town Rangers to prepare their football pitches so that they are match-fit for when it is safe to play football again, following Government advice.

Chairman Alan Clarke said: “This is a huge boost for the players, coaches and all at Deal Town Rangers FC to ensure that when football does resume on our excellent pitches at Goodwin Academy they will be in first class condition for our 300 youth team players.

"Thanks to Matt Anderson for all his hard work in securing this grant."

Robert Sullivan, interim chief executive of the Football Foundation, said: “This is a vital grant to help Deal Town Rangers get their pitches match-fit.

“The Premier League, the FA and Government’s Football Foundation exists to help provide quality infrastructure at the lower-levels of the game.

"Pitch Preparation Fund grants like this one are giving a helping hand to clubs across the country to get their playing surfaces ready for when the game is allowed to begin again following government advice.”

The Football Foundation is a charity funded by the Premier League, The FA and the Government, through Sport England.

Read more: All the latest news from Deal