WE MAY LOSE GENERATION OF STARS
Pandemic means our kids face an uncertain future
THEY all started at grassroots level.
Harry Kane, Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey forged careers for club and country, but only after they began with kids’ clubs and junior coaching.
Today they have been replaced by a new breed of youngsters who dream of following in their footsteps.
But the crisis facing grassroots football is just as big – and arguably bigger – than the Premier League because it will affect millions of Sunday League players, men, women, girls and boys up and down the country.
Those clubs are being told they may not even begin talks about a possible return until August at the earliest, and the fear is that no coaching or games will be allowed for the foreseeable future. There may be nothing this calendar year.
Where does that leave a generation of future stars? Will players lose interest and parents be worried about their kids?
The knock-on effect could be massive as the cash crisis facing the game means the worry of a lack of investment all the way down.
NCF Elites is a club, like many across the country, facing an uncertain future. They have lost thousands of pounds after having to cancel tours and coaching sessions, and they have no idea when they will be back.
They are under the jurisdiction of Letchworth FA, who are following the advice of the Football Association.
There is a blanket ban on games, no coaching is allowed of under-18s from someone from a different household, and group sessions are also not allowed.
NCF Elites director Paul Johnson said: “For many grassroots clubs, they will struggle to survive. That begs the question as to where will we get the next Jack Wilshere, Aaron Ramsey or Harry Kane. They all started somewhere.”
Johnson was a trusted member of Arsene Wenger’s backroom staff and was at Arsenal for more than 30 years before setting up his coaching school two years ago.
Former Arsenal star Wilshere, left, has backed NCF Elites, which has the aim of coaching and taking kids to the prestigious Gothia Cup.
They now have 270 boys and girls signed up, 87 boys were due to go on tours and, like many clubs, they have lost sessions and activities, and the worry is they may never get them back.
Johnson said: “Everyone talks about the Premier League but, for us, youth coaching keeps kids off the streets, gives them direction and that’s the most important thing.
“The pandemic is a tragedy and the loss of life is devastating but the knock-on effects for every walk of life will be felt for a very long time. It’s hard to know how we can come back.”