By Mohamed Hamza, Sportsbeat

Having got her footballing start through the pipeline of grassroots football, Anita Asante paid it forward with a trip to Shefford Sports Ground, home of Shefford Town and Campton F.C.

The former Lioness visited the ground to help launch the FA's 'Greener Game' campaign, a bespoke strategy created in collaboration with E.ON and designed to help the environment by promoting sustainability practices within the grassroots game.

A prime example of the FA's commitment to driving decarbonisation at clubs across the country, Shefford Sports Ground boasts solar panels installed to help reduce the club's energy bills and Asante believes the impact of such initiatives will only be good for grassroots football's long-term health.

“It’s really important because as we know participation numbers are growing all the time and grassroots clubs are the heartbeat of their communities,” said Asante.

“They want to keep being able to offer opportunities and access to the game and there’s no better way to do that than to look at their energy costs and how to reduce them in order to direct their resources to facilitate a game of football.

“I think it’s a really fantastic opportunity for grassroots clubs to get their energy bills audited and also support them with education and advice.

“Running costs of clubs, especially grassroots clubs, can be taken for granted. It relies heavily on volunteers and people who are passionate about the game to facilitate it but in this way, grassroots clubs have a hub where they can find information and be supported in reducing their energy costs.”

Asante began her professional footballing journey at a local grassroots boys' club, and after sharing a pitch with some of Shefford Town and Campton's youth teams, the 71-cap former England international relished playing a role in mentoring the next generation.

She added: “When I was a young player I started off playing in a grassroots boys club in my local area and if I didn’t have that opportunity, I might not have found my way to playing for Arsenal and progressing in my football career.

“For many players that’s where it begins. For me, football was a game that brought me a lot of joy. I loved watching it, I got the opportunity to represent my country and for young people it’s an opportunity for them to aspire to and learn a lot of skills and build self-esteem.

“It’s really important that we have these opportunities for them to get access to the games from their grassroots clubs.

“Grassroots is the pipeline to elite-level football and the more young people we can have playing the game the better. It means we can grow the landscape for grassroots clubs and that sustainability becomes a natural part of the way football is governed.”