The perils of regularly heading a football have been discussed in the media and throughout the game for many years. In recent years, an Alan Shearer documentary and details of Jeff Astle’s dementia diagnosis have intensified the debate.  Very few people are calling for an outright ban on heading, as it’s an integral part of the game. All sports have...

When Alexander Mitrovic manhandled the referee during an angry confrontation in front of the cameras, the spectre of abusive behaviour towards referees once again reared its ugly head. What should have been a televisual feast of football — an occasion to inspire youngsters up and down the country — became another shameful indictment on the state of the game. Every...

Years of underinvestment have left thousands of grassroots sports facilities across the UK in a state of almost complete disrepair. And while local councils and sports associations are grappling with the cost of living crisis, money to put this travesty right is in very short supply. So when the UK Government announced a national funding programme for England, Scotland, Wales...

Grassroots football across the UK has been hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic. The UK Government’s restrictions have forced matches and training sessions to cease — for months at a time. While such restrictions were necessary, they have taken a huge toll on the finances of local leagues and clubs up and down the country.  Without a steady stream of...

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...

Regardless of what you think about England’s performances in the 2018 World Cup, there’s no doubt that this run is capturing the imagination of the country. Politicians are talking about the team in Parliament, airline captains are announcing results at 30,000 feet and throngs of fans are enjoying beer baths in open-air “World Cup zones”. There’s magic in the air...

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...

Professional Players and Funding Form a Powerful Force for Good in Grassroots Football The link between the elite of English football and the grassroots game is well established — and it’s more important than ever. But strangely, it often seems like the people running English football simply don’t understand this. There’s far more to consider than just the next crop...

If you’re old enough to remember English football in the early 1980s, you’ve probably witnessed overt racism aimed at black and Asian players. The likes of the late Cyrille Regis and Justin Fashanu were subjected to the most horrific abuse every Saturday afternoon — and little or nothing was ever done about it. Thank goodness that’s all a thing of...

For far too long, grassroots match officials have been subjected to the most abhorrent abuse. On pitches and playing fields across the country, these unpaid heroes are the only people standing between successful community leagues and the total collapse of grassroots football. In order to protect the next generation of stars, and ensure they have the pathway to the big...