FA

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...

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 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...

Playing park football with friends is a great way to socialise and stay fit. But if you’re looking to take the next step, it might be time to set up a club of your own. Before you take the plunge and register your own FA-affiliated club, you should ask yourself four questions: Do we have enough players to fulfil our...

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...

The huge riches that await the very best young footballers in England are beyond the wildest dreams of most. Worldwide fame, untold riches and the opportunity to do something they love for a living can be attractive pull factors to the game for youngsters. But the biggest rewards are reserved for less than one percent of the children who are...

There is a huge debate raging across the UK regarding the best way to develop our footballers of the future. It is now widely accepted that we’ve fallen behind the likes of Spain and Germany in terms of technical ability, coaching and the production of well-rounded players. But the Scottish FA may have developed a new way of producing its...

Geoff Hurst helped England to fulfil its destiny 50 years ago this month - by scoring the goal that brought the World Cup Jules Rimet trophy to the home of football. Despite countless opportunities and near misses, the England national team has failed to replicate that success. For whatever reason, the country that gave the world the game has fallen...

If you were to ask a local grassroots footballer about the state of the game, they would probably reply with a list of complaints about rotting facilities and unplayable pitches. But ask the average professional, and the response might be a little more vague. So when former Newcastle United and Tottenham legend Chris Waddle was asked about the grassroots game...

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...