Latest figures show
participation in the game is on the up but that there is plenty more work to be
done Participation in grassroots football across England is
building again, following the implementation of The FA's National Game
Strategy, aimed at halting a one-time decline in numbers taking part in the
nation's favourite game.
Furthermore, involvement in The FA Tesco Skills programme has also grown
exponentially in the last year, with over 1.5m aspiring young football players
enjoying the high quality youth coaching on offer from the network of FA Tesco
Skills coaches.
Overall participation in 11 v 11 football in England has stabilised since the
start of The FA's National Game Strategy in 2008, with a year-on-year decline
now in reverse with 30,701 adult male teams in existence compared to the
baseline number of 30,689.
The target for 2012 is for The FA to have retained 32,000 teams in this area of
the game. In the women's game numbers have risen 12% in the first two years of
the Strategy exceeding initial targets, with 1,408 adult female teams playing
eleven-a-side football in England, leading to higher revised aims for the final
two years of the plan.
News 
