It’s hard to read anything about grassroots football these days without hearing about the hardship that local clubs, associations and players are being forced to endure. There’s more money in the game than ever before, yet there are still thousands of young players being forced to play on dangerously worn pitches every weekend. After several years of public pressure, the...

Michael Carrick has enjoyed an exemplary career — both on and off the field. Widely regarded as one of the country’s best passers, the Geordie midfielder has enjoyed huge success with Manchester United over the years. But more importantly, Carrick is a gentleman and a great ambassador for both United and English football in general. He’s the perfect role model...

At the end of 2015, the FA conducted the biggest ever survey into the state of grassroots football in England. Although there were many issues raised by people involved in the game, the overwhelming complaint related to the state of municipal football pitches. More than 80 percent of grassroots football matches take place on pitches run by cash-strapped councils. Yet...

Premier League footballers aren’t always held in the highest esteem amongst those outside the football bubble. Huge weekly wages, bad behaviour on and off the pitch and a lack of role models has left a significant section of the population cynical with regard to the game’s highest earners. But is this fair? The Premier League has a range of community...

As part of the FA’s drive to improve footballing standards amongst English youngsters - and increase grassroots participation levels - a series of ‘City Hubs’ were put into development, and the first of them are now opening. Around 30 hubs are planned for towns and cities across the country, which are all aimed at people who want to play football...

2014 was the year that England, once again, failed miserably at a World Cup Finals. But there were signs that a major corner was turned at grassroots level. The fate of England’s national team will always be inextricably linked to the health of the game at local level. Thanks to a number of initiatives, 2014 has been a year of...

At a time when obesity levels in the UK are rising, and when the effects of sedentary lifestyles are costing the NHS millions of pounds every year, the FA is driving forward with its plan to get adults playing football in their local communities. Imagine you’ve just finished work, and you’re doing what you do every night of the week...