Several high-profile figures within football have been congratulating the English game for kicking out racism in recent years. We’re constantly being told that we are a million miles away from the racism and hooliganism that blighted football in England throughout the 80s. But just how far have we come on this issue? Is overt racism in the game a relic...

Ladies’ football in England is currently riding the crest of a wave. The incredible performance in the last Women’s World Cup, the growing popularity of the Women’s Super League and a string of endorsements and TV deals has given the game a much bigger profile during the last few years. At a time when the number of boys and young...

Soccerex is a lavish conference that ‘brings together the global football industry to network, gain insight and socialise’. On the face of it, this sounds like an opportunity for big business to further their interests within the game. So what actually goes on at this huge event? And does it do anything for ordinary people involved in grassroots football in...

When the FA announced that it would invest £260 million in grassroots football over four years, it soon became apparent that no one really knew how it should be divided up. In 2015, the FA conducted their massive Grassroots Survey to find out what the most pressing issues were. The 2016 Grassroots Survey is now here, and the prospect of...

When the FA announced it would be spending £260m on grassroots football over the next four years, a new-found optimism trickled its way down to local clubs and associations all over England. And the Premier League’s commitment to spending £1bn on the grassroots game over the next three years simply added to the feel-good factor. So why is community-based football...

England’s continual failure to make a lasting impression at a major tournament finals is now a matter of embarrassment for football’s richest domestic governing body. The Football Association has tried foreign coaches, English coaches, controversial coaches, and safe-bet coaches - all without success. But it doesn’t matter whether the current England coach is Sam Allardyce or Sam Fox, very little...

The Premier League is a financial phenomenon that is completely unprecedented in club football. Indeed, only the World Cup can boast higher total revenues. So it makes it all the more baffling that grassroots football in England continues to decline and stagnate. In February 2015, The Premier League agreed a £4.2bn deal with Sky. In addition to this record deal...

The FA has been under increasing pressure to do more for the grassroots game in England recently. And it seems that football’s governing body is finally stepping up its efforts. The recently published ‘Guide to Managing in Grassroots Football’ aims to give amateur coaches expert guidance on how to manage clubs, players and staff. Compiled by several football experts, the...

The issue of bad behaviour on professional football pitches is nothing new in the UK - but it has been getting progressively worse in recent years. The abuse directed towards match officials is now being tackled by the FA’s new Codes of Conduct, which give referees far greater powers to punish players. But will these powers be extended to referees...

The sight of angry professionals surrounding Premier League officials to contend decisions has become commonplace in recent years. While players are often reacting to the enormous amount at stake in the modern game, there can never be an excuse for confrontational, aggressive and abusive behaviour aimed at our referees. Yet week in, week out, we see this scenario play out...