The Future of English Football

How times have changed during my own lifetime.

At the age of 5 I do not think that I knew about football apart from perhaps a rather random kick around with a tennis ball and the once a year broadcast of a proper football match on the BBC- that being the FA Cup Final.

That was only really because of the excitement of the run  up to the game on TV with everything from It's a Knockout between opposing teams of supporters to the player's walkabout on the pitch, a military marching band on the pitch and the community singing of "Abide with me".

Fast forward in time to this morning and the regular weekly footie matches for youth teams at a local recreation ground.

The dedication of parents and followers of the Sporting Club who train, marshall and organise competitive matches enables the fielding of multiple teams, all in sponsored kit, and covering a wide range of ages.

I was mesmerised by one particular match and I am a bit embarrassed to admit that it was not the one I was supposed to be watching.

It was, clumsily using a well worn popular culture phrase "A Game of Tots".

The two six a side teams were the Under 5's although I would think that the average age was about four years old.

In typical chaotic manner for that age the players swarmed up and down the shortened pitch chasing the ball, falling over, bouncing off each other, catching heels and tumbling onto the mud specked grass.

As to be expected there was no tactical sense and when contact was made with the ball it was with no power or direction.

What struck me most however was that the pocket rocket players were acting out the mannerisms and attitudes of those in the Professional game as seen in the Premier League, Champions League and on countless hours of live and highlights programming on terrestrial and satellite channels.

They were, obviously avid watchers, parentally supervised of course, and had their own role models and heroes.

What made the scene compelling was that the Under 5's were kitted out in football boots, socks with shin pads, team issues shirts and shorts so as to resemble perfectly scaled down versions of those that they emulated at senior level.

I was not aware that a football strip came in that small size let alone branded footwear.

The match, which was only over 15 minutes each way was most competitive and rough but the players were enjoying it so much that they seemed oblivious to any scrapes and bruises or the occasional strike in the face by a richocheting ball or a deliberately thrust elbow in the melee.

The touchline was packed with mums, dads, aunties, uncles and grandparents who were, and rightly so . restrained under the rules of match attendance in the amateur leagues from offering advice to the referee, (yes they had a proper one of those) or to the coaching staff of the respective teams.

There were regular encouragements from the team managers (possibly the dad's of a player) which were mostly about remembering which end they were meant to be attacking along with impromptu guidance on making a defence splitting pass, volleying and beating the offside trap.

When a goal was eventually scored, as the action was largely midfield based, the celebrations were strangely familiar in the over theatrical style of the likes of Cain, Firmino, Alli, Vardy and Rashford.

There were many high fives and fist pumps and a few awkward but quite moving attempts at a hug or embrace and that was just by the aforementioned managers.

I tried to catch the names of the players just in case they made it to be the big time in about 15 or so years.

Theirs were quite modern names including Harrison, Cody, Josh, George, Bentley and with the stand-out player, pig tails and all, Bethany.

The game, for all of its clumsiness and violence flew past.

It must have been a draw after full time as a penalty shoot out ensued. There followed some quite brilliant but also comical moments of small figures kicking the ball and others throwing themselves across the mouth of the goal.

There must ultimately have been a winning side which I found most encouraging after many years of the liberal, non competitive stance of schools in particular where the emphasis was on the joy of taking part rather than going all out to victory.

I was heartened by the exploits of Harrison, Bethany and the rest with the future of, at least, English Football seemingly assured.

That is of course if they do not get too irritable and over tired or are unable to wind down from the highs of a great match of football and get grounded for throwing a tantrum before bedtime.