The FA

There was a time when Boys’ Clubs in the UK were a hotbed of footballing talent. Around England, small talent hotspots would spit out an almost continuous flow of talent — much of which ended up being integral to the England national team. The likes of Huyton, Longsight and Wallsend developed some of the most talented English footballers of the...

According to the NHS, a growing number of four and five-year-olds in the UK as being classified as officially obese. Nearly 10 percent of these children were classed as obese in 2016. And as children get older, the problem gets worse. A shocking 20 percent of children aged between 10 and 11 were clinically obese in 2016. There are many...

Young children need lots of time with the ball in order to develop their touch and control. Unfortunately, there are still too many kids playing 11-a-side football on pitches that are too big. Games involving four, five or six players on each time have been shown to be much more effective at developing the skills of youngsters. Not only that...

The Premier League dominates the football industry in the UK, so it’s always nice to see community-based projects make the news. The FA Mars Just Play! Initiative recently proved that local amateur football in England is alive and well after revealing more than one million people have attended events so far. The Mars Just Play! scheme is all about the...

Young referee Ryan Hampson finally gave bad behaviour at local football matches the red card this month when he led a strike in protest against the abuse being directed to match officials. The inspirational 18-year-old persuaded more than 2,000 of his colleagues to join him in his protest. For too long, referees officiating on playing fields and municipal pitches up...

The behaviour of some players and parents in grassroots football has been a major cause of concern for many years now. But over the last decade or so, the situation at youth level seems to have become worse — despite the existence of the FA’s Respect campaign. So bad has the problem become, grassroots referees were planning to strike on...

The recent revelations of abuse within every level of football have shone a light on the welfare of children and vulnerable adults within the game. It is blatantly clear that hundreds of children have been failed by the system over the years, and the responsibility rests on everyone’s shoulders — including with parents. By playing an active role in your...

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 sex abuse scandal that has enveloped British football in recent weeks has shone a light on how vulnerable our youngsters can be. We often entrust virtual strangers with the wellbeing and safety of our children, yet we usually know very little about the coaches and administrators who are crucial to the grassroots game. The FA and the various grassroots...

In light of recent developments in relation to the sexual abuse of young footballers in the UK, it is incumbent on all coaches and football administrators to ensure their club is safeguarding the children it is responsible for. In reality, the safety and well-being of children playing the game is the responsibility of everyone. Each club, association, school and private...