FA injection of cash

[Bitch]

Could be interesting

 

Strategy plans outlined

 

Tuesday, 18 March 2008.

 

The FA has unveiled the philosophy and the dreams behind its £200m investment in the future of grassroots football.

 

The remarkable investment, revealed yesterday on TheFA.com, was announced to the world in a press conference at Soho Square this afternoon and marks the start of an exciting campaign to improve all aspects of the game at all levels.

 

The focus will be on many issues, including the Respect campaign to address poor behaviour from players to raferees and tackle pushy parents on the sidelines.

 

But the project is also about putting money into facilities, coaching, referee recruitment and player development over the next four years.

 

Chief Executive Brian Barwick said: “It’s a very important day in the everyday life of English football.

 

“We are able to unveil an unprecedented £200m investment, which is largely the product of successful television and commercial deals. We will spend that money wisely, not least because we’ve asked those involved how they want it to be spent. Some 37,000 people gave us their views and their experience of football.

 

“The aims are four-fold. Firstly we want more people involved in the game - players, coaches, spectators, administrators and, critically, referees.

 

“Secondly we want better coaches, more skilful players, especially children. Thirdly we want to make it easier to organise the game locally.

 

“And fourthly we want to raise standards of behaviour and address abusive behaviour. And as a parent and lover of the game this goal is especially close to my heart.”

 

The FA Chairman, Lord Triesman, unveiled further details of the plans and is excited about the future.

 

He said: “It represents the biggest investment ever made in grass roots football. Although I’m relatively newly arrived I welcome it and endorse it. It’s a huge and valuable effort

 

“We have undertaken the largest ever consultation The FA has ever embarked on, and it was good and brave to do that. The result shows the breadth of views that have been assimilated

 

“Having played a lot of amateur football myself, been a referee and coached, what I’ve seen shows the investment is demonstrably needed, The state of facilities, making sure you have referees and they are treated properly, these are all absolutely vital.

 

“We want better health for kids and to deal with issues of child obesity. Football can also make a difference to anti-social behaviour and social inclusion. And we here at The FA, the whole machine, has a role to play.”

 

Sir Trevor Brooking was also present at today's press conference and couldn't hide his glee after working so hard on the project for so long.

 

He said: “It’s a big day for grassroots football. It’s a big day for my grandson Harry too because it’s his birthday - he is three! He’s left-footed, too, so we’re working on that!

 

“So this investment is about tapping into all ages. We want to increase participation but more than anything you want to make sure people's first experience of the game is fun and enjoyable. We want to make sure those who touch the game enjoy it and want to stay in it.

 

“Of course we want to raise standards in all areas of football, including at the top. But it’s important to get the platform and the base right for that to happen. So we want to help any youngster improve, whatever their ability."

 

Sir Trevor believes there is a huge challenge ahead.

 

He added: “We have 400,000 volunteers in the game and we need to support better than in the past. Also 11 v 11 facilities are a challenge, we have to work with government on that.

 

“We need to improve and support English coaches and players at all level. And as a governing body we need to lead, we’ve learned our lessons because we haven’t been as strong on that as we should in the past."

 

http://www.thefa.com/GrassrootsNew/News/Postings/2008/03/NGS_PressConference.htm

[Wader]

The BBC recorded interviews at last nights match with our coach and the Ruislip manager. This was played this morning on 5 Live to accompany the above news from The FA.

 

My personal feeling is that FA money spent on Council owned and run pitches and facilities is a total farce and they might just as well throw it down a drain now.

 

Local Authorities are well known for taking money but not for using much to up-keep pitches, provide any security or maintain any proper governence in their long term surety. If it suits them at any time they'll dig up pitches and sell them to property developers or build themselves a car-park on them or simply start restricting access to their own favoured end-users and then charge for usage. There is huge evidence to back all this up.

 

Giving Local Authorities money for football pitches, equipment etc and charging them with maintenance of same, is like giving Fred West a large shovel and a cement mixer and making him headmaster of a young ladies finishing school.

 

Providing facilities for youth football should be put in the hands of vetted non-league clubs who can expand their facilities for total community use. In one stroke, The FA promote their own members, expand facility usage and involve clubs more closely with the local community. Clubs and community benefit, not some local ancient blue rinse politicians and their half baked officers. Giving the money and task at hand to moronic, politicised and self interested local government bodies is utter stupidity and acts against their own members interests and those of the kids/youth football they are meant to be promoting. Land issues are the only ones they should be negotiating with local authorities for.

 

(No offence to local authorities meant )

[Bitch]

I enjoyed your comments Wader!

 

I've not bothered to download the strategy document. Wanna take a wager that all your concerns are laid to rest within it?

 

[Wader]

I remain to be convinced that The FA know what they doing on this. They have a track record themselves for throwing flipping great wodges of cash down the drain on ludicrous, trumped up and ill-planned projects. It all sounds marvelous on paper, but in reality it will most likely be another sham of epic proportions.

[Bitch]

Originally Posted By: Wader

I remain to be convinced that The FA know what they doing on this. They have a track record themselves for throwing flipping great wodges of cash down the drain on ludicrous, trumped up and ill-planned projects. It all sounds marvelous on paper, but in reality it will most likely be another sham of epic proportions.

I take it you weren't one of the 37,000 people they surveyed?

[Wader]

No. Seeing as 36,800 of those canvassed work for The FA it was always unlikely

[Bitch]

Originally Posted By: Wader

No. Seeing as 36,800 of those canvassed work for The FA it was always unlikely

I thought we all virtually work for FA

P.S Fred West is currently busy working in PR for KT since being welcomed with open arms just ahead of Gav

P.P.S Most of the funding came through Rio's diciplinary fine

[Willo the Cat]

Originally Posted By: Wader

Providing facilities for youth football should be put in the hands of vetted non-league clubs who can expand their facilities for total community use. In one stroke, The FA promote their own members, expand facility usage and involve clubs more closely with the local community. Clubs and community benefit, not some local ancient blue rinse politicians and their half baked officers. Giving the money and task at hand to moronic, politicised and self interested local government bodies is utter stupidity and acts against their own members interests and those of the kids/youth football they are meant to be promoting. Land issues are the only ones they should be negotiating with local authorities for.

Wader I don't think anyone (including Rhodes) could argue with that.

[Willo the Cat]

Originally Posted By: Bitch

P.P.S Most of the funding came through Rio's diciplinary fine

Not far off the truth there

[Football Man]

Originally Posted By: Wader

I remain to be convinced that The FA know what they doing...

Was there any need to say any more?

[Krooner]

I went to a consultation evening about this. It was very interesting. I am afraid your attitude Wader runs through football and life. I sat with people who harped on about problems they have had and how the County/National FA never do anything about it. when I mentioned this was about going forward and sorting out the problems that there are all I got was "Yes but....."

 

I agree with some of the things you say Wader and I remain hopeful that some of the money will be used wisely. That is what we all want and if we all pull together it will.

[Rhodes]

Originally Posted By: Bitch

The FA Chairman, Lord Triesman, unveiled further details of the plans and is excited about the future.
He said: “It represents the biggest investment ever made in grass roots football. Although I’m relatively newly arrived I welcome it and endorse it. It’s a huge and valuable effort
“We have undertaken the largest ever consultation The FA has ever embarked on, and it was good and brave to do that. The result shows the breadth of views that have been assimilated
“Having played a lot of amateur football myself, been a referee and coached, what I’ve seen shows the investment is demonstrably needed, The state of facilities, making sure you have referees and they are treated properly, these are all absolutely vital.
“We want better health for kids and to deal with issues of child obesity. Football can also make a difference to anti-social behaviour and social inclusion. And we here at The FA, the whole machine, has a role to play.”

My question is simply has 'Sugar' written to Lord Triesman of Tottenham, yet as I suggested, to introduce himself as the Chairman of Haringey Borough Football Club and ask if financial assistance can be given to Tottenham and Haringey's Community Club.

[Krooner]

Probably has and has been told to go through the normal channels.

[Rhodes]

It depends if he mentioned my name in the letter or not like I told him to, I used to work hand in hand with Lord Triesman in the House of Lords

[Krooner]

So are you suggesting, and please tell me I am wrong, that clubs like ourselves who go through the proper channels are being ignored due to some form of "Old Boys School".

[Bitch]

Mention Rhodesy's name Krooner It's not what you know it's who you know

[Rhodes]

Krooner - I'm not saying that at all, I'm suggesting 'Sugar' approaches Lord Triesman in his capacity as 'Lord Triesman of Tottenham' as opposed to the Chairman of the FA, he would soon be able to identify some funding for 'us' if not put his hand in his pocket himself as he's a multi millionaire. Also as Bitch rightly says it's not what you know it's who you know in this day and age.

[Krooner]

Indeed but all applications would still have to be filled in. I bet Sugar went to him mentioned you Rhodes and blew any chance of getting any cash ever