Birmingham one of three cities leading the way as the FA focusses on grassroots football.
A plan to transform grassroots facilities and coaching across England is central to the second instalment of Greg Dyke’s FA Chairman’s England Commission.
The latest and final report from the year-long study aimed at improving the prospects of the England senior men’s team was unveiled in Sheffield on Friday.
Birmingham will join Sheffield and Liverpool in a pilot scheme before FA plans are rolled out across the country.
In September 2013, Dyke set a target of increasing the current number of English players playing regularly in the Premier League from the present level of 66 to 90 by 2022.
Dyke described the “continuing reduction in the number of English players playing football at the highest level” as a “serious and growing problem for the future of English football”.
In order to meet this challenge, the Commission has focused on the entire pathway for players to ensure they can develop to the best of their potential.
Facilities and coaching have been central to the work over the past 12 months, and Dyke has sought advice and support from across the game and beyond for the Commission’s plans.
The report has proposed that by 2020 there will be:
Football hubs in 30 cities, increasing the number of top-quality artificial grass pitches (AGPs) in urban areas by 130 per cent to more than 500
Leading the way will be a pilot scheme in Sheffield, followed by Birmingham and Liverpool.
A 50 per cent increase in the total number of full-size, publicly accessible 3G AGPs across England, to over 1,000
More than 150 new football-owned and managed football hubs to support the delivery of FA, County FA and professional club youth development and coach education programmes
More than 50 per cent of all mini-soccer and youth football matches – about 3,750 per week – being played on the best quality AGPs
Minister for Sport Helen Grant said: “I welcome The FA’s plans to strengthen the game at the grassroots through improved facilities and coaching. This will build on the successful partnership between the government and football’s £102m Premier League and The FA Facilities Fund.
“I am keen to see what more we can do to help further improve the nation’s facility stock, putting 3G pitches in places that need them most, and I am continuing discussions with the football authorities on this front.”
Deputy Leader of Birmingham City Council, Cllr Ian Ward, said: “Many people in Birmingham live and breathe football, so we’re delighted to be one of the cities leading the way in this exciting FA initiative.
“Birmingham has produced a number of top class players down the years, including current England striker Daniel Sturridge, and I’m sure there are plenty of future stars currently growing up in the city.
It’s not just about stars though, it’s about people playing sport regularly and being physically active.
“But at a time of budget cuts, funding for pitches and facilities in towns and cities across the country is under severe pressure, so we’re delighted that the FA has recognised that fact.”
With regard to coaching, the Commission has considered and recommends a two-step solution.
Firstly, a new coach education organisation. It is proposed that all The FA’s education work, from coach education through to referee development and safeguarding, needs to be brought together in a single department.
This department would be led by a new Head of Education and he or she should report to a Technical Director who will be responsible for coaching overall and will sit on The FA’s executive.
The organisation would define and own a clear strategy for coach and player development.
Secondly, the Commission believes it is important that The FA sets ambitious coaching targets to be achieved over the next three years, building on the significant steps taken in recent years including the building of the national football centre at St. George’s Park.
The report said the initial focus should be on increasing the numbers of skilled coach educators, which in turn will result in a greatly increased number of highly qualified coaches.
In summary, the Commission believes over the next three years the targets should be to:
Recruit a further 25 full-time FA coach educators
More than triple the number of Youth Award Level 3 coaches from 800 to 3,000
More than triple the number of Advanced Youth Award holders from 200 to 750
Increase the number of Pro Licence holders from around 200 to 300
Set and deliver a target to significantly increase – above the levels of Football’s Inclusion and Anti-Discrimination Plan – the number of qualified coaches from BAME backgrounds and others who are under-represented, including female coaches
It adds that The FA should set further targets to improve the quality of existing coaches; adding formal assessment of their capabilities and providing them with excellent ongoing training and support.
The new report also provides updates on ongoing work on the lack of playing opportunities for players from 18-21, the consultation underway for changes to the rules governing work permits for non-EU players, and efforts to boost opportunities for home grown players across clubs.
Reflecting on progress since the Commission was established, the report suggests the situation has not markedly improved although it does point to some positive shifts.
This season’s comparable figures to date for Premier League starts by English players remain at 32 per cent but the figure for the ‘top six’ Premier League clubs has fallen further, from 28 per cent to 25 per cent for the season to date. Two decades ago, that figure was at 69 per cent.
Ends
The FA Chairman’s Commission – made up of Roger Burden, Greg Clarke, Rio Ferdinand, Dario Gradi, Glenn Hoddle, Roy Hodgson, Ritchie Humphreys, Danny Mills and Howard Wilkinson – began work in October 2013.
The first 80-page report, put together after contributions from more than 650 people, reported in May on four primary obstructions to the development of elite English players.
Inadequate and insufficient competitive playing opportunities for 18-21 year-old elite players at top clubs
Regulation of the player market in England is not effective in preserving the desired balance of British, EU and non-EU players in clubs
Coaching and coach development, especially at grassroots level, have not yet reached a satisfactory level and impact
England lags behind in the quantity and quality of affordable grassroots facilities, particularly in the provision of all-weather pitches
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