Rising Costs and Bad Weather: Conditions harming English grassroots football

Lovers of grassroots are worrying that changing times in our social and ecological climates could end up harming the game at this level. Our ever-changing climate, cost of living and poor funding filtering down post a huge threat to the game at amateur level according to some.

Bad weather, the cost of pitches and lack of available pitches due to that weather is creating a vicious cycle that is putting some clubs out of pocket, recent bits of data shown in a report by The Guardian show that in more than 180 clubs, 7 out of 10 expressed concerns on their funding to sustain themselves.

Costs for renting pitches is on a rapid increase also adding to the financial problem with some clubs estimating that their pitches have increased by at least 16% for each use.

It is not only the increase in pitch hire but the increase in fuel that is causing an issue for grassroots financial this time however it is the parents that are feeling the bite, it is reported that home games for clubs are well attended but away games less so with parents seemingly either unable or unwilling to travel too far.

The FA itself through the football foundation are busy looking to fund maintenance of grass pitches throughout the country, its funding has reached clubs, parish councils, schools pitches and town pitches across the UK. Any site that believes it is eligible for this funding is encouraged to reach out to its local FA to gain help from them.

An FA spokesperson has been quoted:

“We recognise the challenges faced by grassroots leagues and clubs across the country following this season’s exceptional weather conditions. Our focus and ambition across grassroots football in England is to transform grass pitch quality and deliver further 3G pitches to improve player experience and ensure that more games are played as originally scheduled. We currently support around 7,000 pitches up and down the country with the ambition to extend this number significantly over our next four-year strategy.”

(The Guardian)

There is one positive to find in this report however, the research done by The Guardian into grassroots football found that there has been an increase in participation by 69% of clubs. Hopefully with a good showing by the England men’s senior side in the European Championships this number will continue to increase.