Britain’s football pitches are in decline, something that experts say jeopardises the country’s ability to develop the next generation of stars. Data released under the Freedom of Information Act reveals that more than 700 council football pitches have been lost since 2010. Other heavily affected regions included Yorkshire, which lost 76, London which lost 54 and the West Midlands, which lost 84. “In the face of the current childhood obesity epidemic, football pitches are a key resource. “Grassroots football is the breeding ground for the next generation of England stars, but it’s also a crucial arena for tackling racism and discrimination at an early age,” he said.

Source: The Guardian June 02, 2019 07:52 UTC