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| Council football pitches abhorrent, says FA | Council football pitches abhorrent, says FA |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Council-run football pitches used by thousands of amateur teams each week are in an "abhorrent state", the Football Association has told the BBC. | Council-run football pitches used by thousands of amateur teams each week are in an "abhorrent state", the Football Association has told the BBC. |
| The future of the game is under threat unless there is a move from grass to artificial pitches, the FA told Radio 5 live's Victoria Derbyshire programme. | The future of the game is under threat unless there is a move from grass to artificial pitches, the FA told Radio 5 live's Victoria Derbyshire programme. |
| Pitches are not only waterlogged after heavy rain but are also suffering from overuse in many cases, the FA says. | Pitches are not only waterlogged after heavy rain but are also suffering from overuse in many cases, the FA says. |
| About 80% of amateur football is played on council-run grass pitches. | About 80% of amateur football is played on council-run grass pitches. |
| Sport England says about 1.8 million people play football each week. | Sport England says about 1.8 million people play football each week. |
| Many pitches were once heavily subsidised, but a squeeze on local government budgets has meant the cost of hiring them has often gone up - in some cases by as much as 300%. | Many pitches were once heavily subsidised, but a squeeze on local government budgets has meant the cost of hiring them has often gone up - in some cases by as much as 300%. |
| But the increased fees have not always led to improved facilities, with some pitches poorly maintained and suffering from use for multiple games. | But the increased fees have not always led to improved facilities, with some pitches poorly maintained and suffering from use for multiple games. |
| "The state of local authority pitches is abhorrent," said Pete Ackerley, the FA's senior national game development manager. | "The state of local authority pitches is abhorrent," said Pete Ackerley, the FA's senior national game development manager. |
| "There has to be a move to sustainable artificial pitches. The average grass pitch can hold two to three games a week - artificial pitches can host up to 60 teams training and matches. | "There has to be a move to sustainable artificial pitches. The average grass pitch can hold two to three games a week - artificial pitches can host up to 60 teams training and matches. |
| "Football has had a huge subsidy for so long - now local authorities have tough decisions to make." | "Football has had a huge subsidy for so long - now local authorities have tough decisions to make." |
| Synthetic pitches are also much more likely to be floodlit, for play on winter nights, said Mr Ackerley. | Synthetic pitches are also much more likely to be floodlit, for play on winter nights, said Mr Ackerley. |
| 'Falling behind' | 'Falling behind' |
| In January, campaign group Save Grassroots Football urged clubs across the country to refuse to play their matches in protest about the rising costs of hiring poor-quality pitches. | In January, campaign group Save Grassroots Football urged clubs across the country to refuse to play their matches in protest about the rising costs of hiring poor-quality pitches. |
| Many games were abandoned anyway because of rain. | Many games were abandoned anyway because of rain. |
| Campaign organiser Kenny Saunders, who runs Woolton FC in Merseyside, told the Victoria Derbyshire programme: "We've had nine games called off in a row on pitches that are overpriced and not suitable for football anyway. | Campaign organiser Kenny Saunders, who runs Woolton FC in Merseyside, told the Victoria Derbyshire programme: "We've had nine games called off in a row on pitches that are overpriced and not suitable for football anyway. |
| "If a child missed nine weeks of school, they'd fall behind. It's no wonder we're falling behind in football." | "If a child missed nine weeks of school, they'd fall behind. It's no wonder we're falling behind in football." |
| One club that says it has been affected by poor facilities is Rockleaze Rangers FC in Bristol, which claims a lack of good-quality facilities means local youngsters are being turned away. | One club that says it has been affected by poor facilities is Rockleaze Rangers FC in Bristol, which claims a lack of good-quality facilities means local youngsters are being turned away. |
| An under-14 at the club said he was jealous of Spanish youngsters, who rarely play on grass, enabling them to "learn from a young age to play well". | An under-14 at the club said he was jealous of Spanish youngsters, who rarely play on grass, enabling them to "learn from a young age to play well". |
| The club said it had regularly had funding applications for an all-weather surface rejected, and was currently playing on pitches with an uncertain future. | The club said it had regularly had funding applications for an all-weather surface rejected, and was currently playing on pitches with an uncertain future. |