decline of Adult Football

[zody]

In the summer edition of the Essex County FA mgazine which I recieved yesterday it is reported the decline in adult participation.

 

Because local authorities do not have a statuatory obligation to provide playing fields and each year there budget is cut and pitches are the soft target, PLUS LACK OF VOLUNTEERS TO ADMINISTER LEAGUES AND CLUBS, PLUS THE GAME IS STUCK IN THE MIRE OF RED TAPE AND FINES.

 

SO WHAT HAS GONE WRONG

 

We all over react, but how can we encourage more people to get involved by helping and most important play the beautiful game

 

Any thoughts on this

[Keemo]

exactly the same is happening with cricket.........fewer players, teams and pitches...

 

how many other sports are in particpational decline?

[coupwotcoup]

I know I'm turning into a grumpy old man, but kids/teenagers tend to have wall to wall home entertainment these days, and trying to entice them to life outside takes a superhuman effort.

You only have to look at Romford and probably Hornchurch town centres on a Saturday afternoon when both our sides are at home, and see the amount of kids that are wandering around aimlessly.

Even the bait of free football five minutes down the road seems to wash over them. Perhaps it is down to marketing. The fact that HFC with their recently acquired fan base and that there are some good local derbies in the offing for at least one season, could be beneficial to both our clubs in the long term.

[Keemo]

i know what you mean CWC... <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

[MbrunoB]

A problem with kids is that they are fed the idea that there is no football outside of the Premiership and the foundation of that was ground zero.

I found myself defending Spurs, and I'm a commited Gooner, when a young Man United supporter said they had never won the league and he lives in Enfield.I admit they last won it in black and white though!! <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

[coupwotcoup]

I thought it was Navy and White?

[and1inthetree]

spurs have won as many titles as chelsea have, but not as many as huddersfield...

[coupwotcoup]

Do not get confused though, with the Football League title, which is now presented to the Championship winners as opposed to the Premiership, which most kids under the age of 15 think is when football first began.

Can it get any worse?

[and1inthetree]

i prefer this one

 

 

to this one...

 

 

going back to the heysel programme it reminded me of watching football before sky, all seaters etc.

 

thing i miss most about going to games back then, suprisingly, is fear.

[coupwotcoup]

Why can you never find a decent sized photo of the Essex Senior League title when you want one!

 

Yes, must agree. Fear, adrenalin, excitement, nearly getting stabbed at Wigan, almost set on fire at Stafford, Chelmsford fans trying to throw you in the river Cam, Yeovil fans high on scrumpy trying to do unmentionable things to your softer parts and the Corby crew who all looked and sounded like Blackadder's mad Scottish cousin McAdder, who was madder than Mad Jack McMad, winner of last year's Mr Madman competition."

Happy days though!