5 things you didn’t know about grassroots football
Anyone who played football as a kid will have fond memories of literally using jumpers for goalposts and squeezing out every last drop of daylight, just to finish that game of World Cup Doubles.
However, grassroots football has come a long way in recent years. Thanks to the way in which the modern professional game has developed, grassroots football is now more focused, technical and competitive than it ever has been.
Here are a few things you may not know about it.
1. Grassroots football isn’t just about kids
The term ‘grassroots’ is often misunderstood.
It doesn’t just apply to kids’ football. In fact, it’s more of a blanket terms for football at the very bottom rung of the ladder in general.
So, it takes into account kids’ football, Sunday league, 5-a-side tournaments and those kickabouts you have with your mates every Thursday night.
Grassroots is football where dreams are played out, regardless of the likelihood of those players ever going ‘big time’.
2. The FA invests in it — but there’s still a gap
It’s thought that the FA current invests around £1 million every week into the grassroots game. Thanks to other funding on top of that, the annual total is somewhere close to £70 million.
However, many believe there is still a significant funding gap which is preventing grassroots football from reaching its full potential.
3. ‘Winning’ is sometimes a naughty word
When it comes to grassroots football for kids, you might be surprised to hear that the word ‘winning’ is sometimes frowned upon.
I won’t get drawn into this debate, but it’s an interesting point. Is the desire to win a bad thing for kids? Does it push them to focus on winning against everything else, at all costs?
There are many varied opinions on this, but it’s incredible to think that a single word has dominated grassroots football of late.
4. Clubs are community hubs, too
Grassroots football at its best goes far beyond the beautiful game.
The clubs that thrive at that level are those that invest significant time in creating a hub for the community.
Games give people the opportunity to come together and enjoy the sport, but once the final whistle goes, many grassroots clubs continue the bond that develops between players, parents and fans. This results in events and projects that extend far beyond football and which genuinely benefit the local community.
5. It’s massive in America
Although the USA are usually more inclined to watch baseball, American football or basketball, football (or, ‘soccer’, as they call it) is playing an increasingly important role.
It’s thought that over 11 million kids and adults attend soccer camps every year in the United States — a clear indication that this is a sport which really has broken the Atlantic barrier.
Wrapping up
Grassroots football provides some of the biggest highs and lows in the game. It’s for everyone, by definition, but clearly has some way to go in terms of funding, support and recognition.
