NEWS - NOVEMBER: LETS WELCOME A CHANGE

With England's failure to qualify for the Euro 2008 Tournament next summer, the media have been looking at the a wide ranging issues surrounding the English game. They have been looking at the whole of English football to find out answers to how England have failed to qualify, and how we can move the game forward in the coming years. While there have been many different opinions and some uncomfortable conversations and reflections on our national game, there is a mood to see change happen in our national game from top to bottom.

It has been refreshing to hear youth development at the core of the issues and we have a wonderful window of opportunity to make some positive strides in changing the culture of our game. Especially with regard to how we provide coaching for young players and provide children with opportunities to get to know a football.

While we at FDS, have very strong opinions of what we would like to see changed in youth development in England, it would be wrong for use this article as a battering ram of our beliefs in what needs to be changed.

Looking into the future we need to ask ourselves what change should look like, and in a years time as England start their world cup qualifying campaign. If children are still running about on horrible park pitches, in horrible weather, playing infront of parents screaming to whack the ball forward, playing on pitches that are too big for them, training without having a ball each, then change has just been talk.

It's a time for action by us all and lets ensure change is visible not just media talk.