Does anyone remember their younger days? Football in the streets or a park from first light to last. We all have fond memories of those days but drive past any park today and it is highly likely that there won't be a football in sight! You will also struggle to find anyone playing in the street. Kids just don't do...

The UK Government’s austerity measures have taken a heavy toll on local authority finances in recent years. Councillors have met the challenge by, among other things, selling assets and slashing costs wherever possible. Essential public services are rightly being ring-fenced from these measures. But initiatives, facilities and land related to sporting endeavours have not.  And the consequences have been devastating...

Game Realistic Warmups I was at a 7-aside grassroots game recently where one team did a rondo and a short passing exercise as part of a warmup. The game kicked off, and for the rest of the game, they kicked the ball long to their striker. It left me wondering why they focused on shorter passing for the warmup when...

The recent spate of racist attacks at the top level of football is a sign that the issue of discrimination in the game never really went away. The likes of Raheem Sterling and Danny Rose have been subjected to disgusting racist abuse in recent weeks — drawing the ire of the football community, fans, and power brokers at the very...

Football is a simple game. It involves 22 players, two goals and a ball. And when it’s done right, it’s a beautiful thing. The vast majority of resources and skills within the grassroots game have to be spent on the players and the people who look after them. But there’s a bureaucracy in the game that is diverting funds away...

Around a decade ago, the FA realised that it had to be proactive in order to stop falling participation levels in grassroots football. And to give the governing body its dues, it took the issue seriously. The following years were all about giving communities the facilities they deserve. As well as a series of investment initiatives aimed at improving playing...

It might surprise you to know that professional scouts don’t attend grassroots football matches as much as they used to. Before the digital age, a scout might watch a young player from the sidelines a dozen or more times before making an offer. These days, however, players can be signed after just one or two visits. This is because technology...

The life of a grassroots football referee is very often a thankless one. Amateur match officials get it in the neck from all sides these days — from players, coaches and spectators. So much so, there’s now a dire shortage of referees in England. Nevertheless, thousands of referees perform their duties diligently every weekend, on pitches and playing fields up...

Unless you’re involved in the business side of grassroots football, you probably don’t realise how expensive things can be at this level. After all, you wouldn’t necessarily think that some young people kicking a ball around on some grass would be all that costly. But when you delve into the figures, you might begin to wonder how so many grassroots...

The Football Association is desperately trying to make up for lost time when it comes to investing in grassroots football. And while participation levels among young male adults are still falling in England, the good news is that other demographics are coming back to the game in significant numbers. Overall, however, many believe that the grassroots game in England is...