Football Federation SA’s $35 million community infrastructure plan for grassroots soccer has impressed the State Government and the Opposition.

The FFSA document comes on the back of The Advertiser last year highlighting that SA’s community soccer clubs were struggling to keep up with high levels of participation.

The number of outdated facilities was hindering the growth of the state’s fastest- growing code which is facing substandard pitches, inadequate clubrooms, changerooms and poor flood lighting.

State soccer’s governing body has invested in a comprehensive study which outlines in detail the FFSA Football Facilities Strategic Plan.

Minister for Sport Leon Bignell said the FFSA’s strategic plan proposal was professionally presented, declaring the government had supported grassroots soccer by injecting $6 million into various community projects since 2011/12.

“We’ve spent more on soccer than in any sport in the last few financial years,’’ Bignell said.

“But we’ve spoken about the federation’s review and we are impressed that soccer has a good long-term plan and vision for the sport.

“We’d like to see better facilities and the artificial pitches that have been proposed would be fantastic so children can use pitches at all times.”

Opposition recreation and sport spokesman Iain Evans said he was also very keen to help the game given the FFSA document had a focus on community.

Evans said the Liberals would reinstate sports funding to the tune of $3.5 million a year if it won power on March 15.

“We support the long-term plan for soccer,’’ Evans said.

“There would be more funds available for sport under our government and soccer will have access to that money.”

A national facilities audit was conducted in 2009.

Following the report the strategic plan mapped participation growth and applied it to the 30-year plan for Greater Adelaide.

The FFSA’s proposal would see five greenfield sites across metropolitan Adelaide established in the council areas of Tea Tree Gully, Port Adelaide/Enfield, Marion and Playford.

FFSA chief executive Michael Carter says the infrastructure plan is consistent with state government planning.

“It would see a minimum of nine new artificial pitches, 20 new natural turf pitches developed and substantial upgrades to at least 20 community club based venues,’’ Carter said.