Fears Sheffield could miss out on next generation of talent amid grassroots football pitch concerns
When it comes to football nowhere in the country has more history than Sheffield.
It’s the home of the sport, where the rules of the game were first written, and a place where many great talents grew up.
The likes of six-time Premier League winner Kyle Walker, former Manchester United captain Harry Maguire and even 1966 World Cup-winning goalkeeper Gordon Banks all started their grassroots journey in this city as as kids - and they all benefited from the tireless work of people involved in the beautiful game such as coaches, referees and groundsmen, many of them volunteers, who have created a foundation for the next generation to thrive.
However, there are concerns that facilities and pitches for grassroots football are not up to standard and it could be threatening the development of the city’s young footballers.
"Game off" is a familiar text for many parents to receive particularly in the winter months after pitch inspections deem it unsafe for people to play football.
The Star asked Sheffielders what their recent experiences of grassroots football have been like and the responses flooded in.
Sheffield-based MKM Juniors FC expressed concerns about the city's chances of continuing to produce talent in the future.
The club said: “As a small one-team grassroots club in Sheffield, facilities are becoming a real struggle. Green spaces are being taken up by housing - which I understand we desperately need - but suitable playing surfaces with proper drainage are few and far between.
“Grass pitches are constantly waterlogged and games get called off, while 4G pitches are simply too expensive for smaller clubs like ours.
“For a city known as the home of football, we should be doing more to protect and improve accessible facilities. Without affordable, all-weather options, more children are going to miss out.”
Matt Dewey also expressed his concern about the lack of pitches in the area.
He explained: “Not enough decent grass pitches available that aren't bogs when it rains and 3Gs are priced out of most teams financial limits. Grass pitches are left to grow massively long from May to September in either a cost saving manner or to stop football being played.”
Grassroots plays a vital role in harnessing the talents of young footballers across the country, but many of the issues affecting young players are also having a negative impact on adult football.
Alan Eyre pointed out: “There’s nothing like the number of pub and works teams like there used to be years ago.”
Jonathan Smith expressed similar concerns simply commenting “availability” when asked what the issues with pitches are.
Concerns over the standard of pitches in the city have also come under the spotlight, with many claiming that more funding needs to be put into parks across the country.
Robert Purseglove explained in early March that he hadn’t played a single game since November due to the poor weather.
While RvB Hillsborough Club FC Sun Adults Team echoed those concerns, commenting: “A lot more funding needed into council pitches.”
Barry White highlighted the disparity between the money at the top of the game in the Premier League particularly and how he feels that there’s not enough being invested further down the pyramid.
He said: “We've got the best football league in the world, it generates millions in revenue, teams are spending extortionate amounts on players and wages, yet the base of the pyramid, grassroots, is in dire need of funding. More all weather pitches, better grass pitches (are needed).”