The Regent’s Park awarded London FA Grounds Team of the Year

The Regent's Park sports team has been awarded the London Football Association (FA) Grounds Team of the Year 2025.

The award, part of the Grassroots Awards 2025, recognises the inclusive football provision offered in The Regent's Park, in providing some of the highest quality sports pitches in London. 

The operation is managed by a small team of three full-time Grounds Staff, working with a core team of three Active Sports Officers, two Development Officers, and the Sports Manager. Together, they oversee 25 pitches, with 24 currently rated 'Good' or better, and 17 at 'Advanced' standard.

Each week, The Regent's Park hosts around 4,600 football players, with over 140 matches played every weekend across its pitches. This includes 34 women's and girls' matches in winter with additional matches midweek and during the summer. The summer season includes 12 extra fixtures as part of the Summer Girls League, and three weekly mixed ability football matches, comprising 20 teams.

Since the installation of a second hybrid pitch in April 2024, the venue has become one of the UK's prime locations for women's and girls' football. The girls' football league in The Regent's Park has increased from 36 to 72 teams in just 12 months. This is predicted to rise to 90 girls' teams for the upcoming 2025-26 season. The Inclusion Football League has grown from eight to 20 teams in the same timeframe. 

The increase in provision comes as the Lionesses celebrate their win at Euro 2025.

Nick Biddle, Park Manager of The Regent's Park and Primrose Hill, The Royal Parks, said: 

"Our urban green spaces are crucial for so many reasons, including sports and exercise, and it's wonderful to be recognised by the London FA for this award. A huge thank you to everyone involved in making this happen. 

"To go from having very few women's and girls' teams to now welcoming so many on a regular basis, including four that will call the park their home ground this season, is a huge point of pride for the whole team. 

“Staff have told me that they've had some of the most rewarding days in their career whilst working on the free half term football programmes for children from low-income families, or the mixed ability Sunday league for those who face barriers to participating in team sports.

"Only recently, another Royal Park, St. James's Park, helped celebrate the Lionesses' Euro 2025 win, and we can't wait to welcome even more women and girls' teams into the park as a result of this fantastic achievement and the passion it inspires for the sport."

Neil Twitchett, Head of Development, London FA, which runs the award scheme, said: 

“The Regent’s Park Grounds Team have not only set the bar nationally for pitch quality and innovation, they have helped shape a football environment that is inclusive, accessible, and thriving at every level. 

“Their PitchPower ratings, player impact, commitment to women’s and disability football, and outstanding professionalism in managing a public space set them apart from every other grounds team in the country.”