PLAYING weekend football with a local team has been a rite of passage for kids for generations.
But a Sun investigation today reveals that the cost of living crisis is forcing scores of kids to drop out of sports clubs as families struggle to make ends meet.
In the wake of the crisis, today The Sun is launching Footie For All — backed by some of England’s top players — to highlight the importance of grassroots sports clubs.
A shocking new poll from Sported, a charity which supports community sports clubs, has found 94 per cent of grassroots clubs are concerned about the impact of soaring prices on their membership.
And football clubs across the country have told The Sun how the economic crisis is forcing kids out of training and weekend matches, even though the clubs are doing all they can to give their players a chance.
One such club is Brent Cross Football Academy in North London, which offers matches and training to almost 200 children, aged from four to 14.
The players come from a huge mix of social backgrounds and to keep things as accessible as poss-ible, the club still charges £400 to £500 a year for subscriptions, while other clubs have raised theirs to more than £600.
The academy is determined to try to avoid any young player missing out on sport, and the management team make it clear to parents they will help out any family with financial struggles when they can.
And the Brent Cross chiefs’ worries are shared across the country, with 92 per cent of clubs saying they are extremely concerned about the negative impact on the young people they serve, according to the Ring/Sported Community Pulse Survey.
And almost 50 per cent of club leaders surveyed told how lack of money was affecting participation in sport.
Some 31 per cent of those surveyed believe the long-term con-sequences of the economic pinch will see fewer young people taking part in sports and physical activity.
The benefits of grassroots sports for kids is well documented.
From the obvious health benefits, community sports teams also offer huge social benefits by channelling kids’ energy into physical activity.
The UK is home to more than 40,000 clubs, and almost all those we spoke to declared that they would never want to stop a child playing with them — but often find themselves under pressure due to the cost of registration, pitches or transport.
Nicola Walker, chief executive of Sported, said: “The cost of living is putting grassroots sports groups under extreme pressure. It’s making it harder to raise the cash to operate.
“And it’s making it tougher on our kids to afford the price of participation, or even just the cost of travelling to take part.
“That means they could miss out on a boost to their physical and mental wellbeing.
“But time spent kicking a ball or in a dance class is also time in a safe space where young people meet positive influences and get a priceless chance to learn and grow.
“So it’s important that the Government recognises all the amazing ways in which sport contributes to building stronger, safer communities and offers the support it needs.”
At Brent Cross the country’s economic woes started to become apparent at the beginning of the year, when head coach Jamie Kavanagh noticed he was losing children because families were struggling with paying the subs.
He sent a message to all parents asking if those who could afford it could spare a little more to help fund sponsorships for ten children who could no longer afford to play.
Jamie, 27, said: “We’re finding that a lot of the children are struggling to make every session purely because of the cost of the subs, new football boots, kit and travel to fixtures and training.
“We hoped to be able to help ten children but we’ve managed to get the money to sponsor 12, thanks to the generosity of the parents.
Every one who donated extra told us how amazing the initiative was.
“The parents of the kids who get to play for free are hugely grateful and it allows them to focus on other things without the worry of their children missing out on activities they enjoy and keep them active.
“Football is so important for helping kids with communication skills, having an outlet, and it gives them a family feeling. I’d never want anyone to lose that due to money issues.”
With so many football clubs telling how the cost of living crisis risks harming the health of our youngsters, it was clear something needed to be done.
Here we highlight some of the grassroots clubs which are making a big difference in their communities and finding ways to try to beat the negative effects of the cost of living crisis.
And four England aces, who know only too well the benefits of grassroots football, back our call for Footie For All.
Barnsley, Everton, Man City & England
“PLAYING grassroots football as a kid with my friends for my local team was the first step into football for me, and I never looked back.
“It played such an important part of my childhood and I’ll always be so grateful for the opportunity it provided for me and so many other children.
“Grassroots football often provides a happy and safe environment for children to play, meet friends and learn new skills.
“If it wasn’t for that start I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to learn important life skills on and off the pitch while having fun with my mates.
“It can give children something to look forward to, even when things may be difficult, and make such a positive impact for both parents and kids.”
Alpha & Omega FC, QPR, Liverpool, Man City, Chelsea & England
“WE can’t just look at the physical benefits of grassroots football because it also has the ability to bring people together.
“My mentor Clive Ellington was the one that actually got me into football to focus my energy and correct my behaviour.
“He was a great role model. I found something I wanted to put my maximum energy in to and it paid off.
“I fell in love with football through that Sunday league team – and made friends for life.”
International Prep School, Lisbon, Sporting CP, Spurs & England
“FOOTBALL is a lifeline for many.
“It encourages teamwork, discipline, friendship, improved health and wellbeing, and a sense of community.
“I know kids will benefit from the game and all that comes with it.”
Leominster Miners, Hereford Utd (Herts), West Ham, England
“WHEN I was little I had a dream of playing football for my entire life.
“It was the most important thing in my week and I know it’ll be the same for boys and girls across the UK.
“We can’t let kids see that dream die simply because mum or dad can’t afford to pay for the subs, kit and travel. Football is for everyone and it’s massively important it stays that way.
“It’s more than just kicking a ball about, it’s building lifelong friendships, getting to do something you love and a chance to learn
about healthy competition.
“It gives a routine and a chance to zone out from anything that might be going on in their lives. If that’s taken away it’ll leave children in a bad place because they’ve lost something they love.
“One of the best things for me is seeing young kids play football at my old club. I saw an under-eights team in a penalty shootout. It brought me so much joy to see how happy and determined they were. That’s what football is really about – bringing joy to everyone.”
HELSTON AFC plays a vital role in supporting nearly 400 kids in 17 teams, including many families from nearby Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose, one of Europe’s biggest helicopter bases.
But youth co-ordinator and under-13s coach Chris Strike says the cost of living crisis has badly impacted this region of Cornwall, making it harder for families to pay the £80 annual membership.
Chris, 42, an architect from Helston, said: “We’ve had a number of parents say this year they can’t afford the membership fees.
“I’m proud to say we don’t and we won’t ever stop a child registering because they can’t pay their fee.
“Either the club will fund it or a couple of us have funded kids. Others ask us to pay monthly and that’s fine, we have always found a solution.
“I’m lucky I own my own business and sponsor my team and there are a couple of coaches in that position, but a lot of the teams will try to raise money from local businesses.”
Chris added: “Each of the 17 teams has two coaches trying to help the players, both in and out of football. Some kids want to talk about difficulties at home and you are there to support them in that respect as well. There’s a lot more to being a football coach than just coaching football.”
The club has close ties with Plymouth Argyle and Southampton’s academies, and this year 19 youth players from Helston have represented Cornwall.
Among their recent successes is striker Luke Jephcott, who plays for Swindon, and who was with Helston before joining Argyle’s academy.
COMMUNITY sports club and outreach centre The Pythian Club in Nottingham offers free sports sessions, including football and boxing, to youngsters aged up to 19.
Yet even without subs, its bosses fear that costs such as travel and kit are becoming unaffordable for the families of its youngsters.
The club performs an important social role, often taking on children who have been involved in gangs and crime, or who have been referred to it by probation services.
Currently it looks after 400 children and teenagers who come to the centre to play a range of sports.
Founder Benjamin Rosser told The Sun: “It absolutely breaks my heart that so many kids are missing out. Sport is such an important way for us to reach out to kids and stop them from going down the wrong path. Part of our work is actively seeking out young people that would otherwise fall through the gaps and give them a chance at a better life.
“We have around 120 to 150 young people we work with that are really financially struggling and need extra support.
“We try to find ways to work around that to make sure they don’t have to make difficult choices such as having to pay their bus fare to school and not be able to access a sports activity that week.
“Sometimes it’s getting food in their belly or playing football. Those are the difficult choices that they’re making.
“Running a session on a Friday for about 180 kids sets us back about £280, which is expensive, but we never pass those costs on. We’re a family and we’ll always provide what we can.”
