The FA launched its Charter for Quality 11 years ago, allowing professional clubs to recruit children aged eight and over into their academies. However, a generation of talent passed through the system with coaches who arguably lacked the expertise to instruct them properly.
After consultation with players and organisations, a new four year National Game Strategy was unveiled in March 2008. This was built on four key goals: to grow and retain participation; to raise standards and address abusive behaviour; to develop better players; and to run the game effectively. A series of courses was developed to educate coaches to teach three age groups – five to 11s, 12 to 16s, and 17 to 21s. Virtually two years to the day since the inception of the FA’s strategy, the latest findings appear positive. Overall participation is up by 1,167 teams, while the numbers of men playing 11 a side football is up for the first time in many years. That means more teenagers are being persuaded to stay in the sport after the age of 16.
Elsewhere, women’s football continues to be the fastest growing sport in Britain, with a seven per cent rise in the youth game, while the total number of qualified referees has risen by nine per cent to 25,502. However, the FA has also admitted the majority of facilities remain ‘poor and in some cases awful’.
Hackney Marshes, Europe’s largest expanse of playing fields, used by about 1,500 players every Sunday, is one area that has remained untouched. The marshes are part of a £10million makeover for the 2012 Olympics. But the plans have been criticised by teams who claim the best pitches will become a temporary car park, leaving them without somewhere to play for up to three years. Clubs using similar inner-city expanses across the country cannot even begin to think of boasting that sort of investment, with or without a catch.
