The FA has been under intense pressure to improve grassroots football in England for many years now. The game’s governing body has launched a raft of initiatives to address issues such as pitch quality, amenities, coaching standards and player behaviour. But are any of these measures actually working? Participation levels at the community level of the game are still falling...

If a CEO or an executive board member were to deliver a bad performance, the chances are they’d be fired. If you were to fail in your most basic of duties at work, you’d probably face the axe too. So why do the faceless FA board members, who are ultimately responsible for the grassroots game in the UK, seem to...

The term ‘giving something back’ has become a cliche — often used by rich and powerful celebrities to enhance their public image. But there are several Premier League footballers who are putting their money where their mouth is by getting involved in crucial grassroots projects around the country. In this age of uber-wealthy football stars, it is somewhat gratifying to...

One of the biggest mysteries in English grassroots football is: Where does all of the money the FA claims to spend end up? We’re constantly being told that investment by the super-rich Premier League and Football Association is at record levels, yet participation levels continue to fall and local clubs continue to fold at an alarming rate. One avenue through...

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...