11 Oct 2025 15:10:47
I was just having a think out walking the dog the other day across the fields at the back of where I live in hull. These fields when I moved in to my house 20 years ago were covered in sports pitches. I think from memory there were 6 footy pitches, two rugby and a cricket pitch.
Up till then hull had one of the biggest Saturday and Sunday amateur football leagues in Yorkshire. The sports mail used to have two or three pages dedicated to the league standings and reviews of selected games.
Fast forward to 5 years back on the same dog walk. Two footy pitches and cricket pitch. The goal posts would stand there for months with odd game on a weekend. Slowly that dwindled to nothing and now nothing and the pitches are not there anymore. It is the same in just about every park that I remember playing on. What is more worrying for sport In general is the lack of kids out playing it.
In my day we would have full 11 a side games with more and more kids turning up and playing. And games lasting 2 hours.
Is this a reason our sports are lacking real skill or maverick players? The pool of talent is not there the kids are not bothering to go out and play. When was the last time anyone saw a big group of youngsters playing kick around on park?
I know a lot of teams have moved to 4g pitches at schools etc. When i played veterans footy we moved to 4g because of bad council pitches. Looking at professional football now it's looking at 11 athletes who can play football. Some of the magic is missing. The amateur or none league players are getting fewer and the only ones who stand a chance of making it are the ones who are enthusiastic enough or lucky enough to get involved in the lessening organised leagues.
What do you think guys? How is the grassroots sport around you? How is it different to when you burst onto the scene?
11 Oct 2025 16:00:58
Ah, gutted since the local female mud wrestling team folded a few years ago. Those were the days.
11 Oct 2025 20:33:19
Good post WB.
We've just lost our local cricket club after 130 years!
Kids not taking up the game, young adults either working at weekends or not prepared to spend all day playing the game - its a great shame.
11 Oct 2025 21:30:38
I was amazed when we moved from UK to Canada the number of organized sports and activities available to kids at good prices and the huge participation rates. Often kids did multiple.
Eldest focused on football, karate and scouts while youngest did Fencing along with karate and scouts.
Both did basketball as well for a year or so.
This part of Canada is very laid back and when I coached football work were happy for me to leave early some days. Very different!
12 Oct 2025 09:49:29
Yeah Canada. Comes down to money and the will. Not enough spare coin and kids on electronics. No chance. Sport is for the elite.
12 Oct 2025 10:19:30
Have you watched the Freddie Flintoff 'field of dreams' this series cleggy. He tries to set up young cricket team in Manchester, Liverpool and a girls team in Blackpool.
All the cricket clubs he went to were struggling with one or two teams still playing. I'm afraid more will go especially the city ones.
Unfortunately Canada our youth system has been totally taken apart. When the councils are under funded for so long one of the first things to go are youth clubs and youth services.
Most young adults now will go to a gym regularly but not really play any sports.
We had 3 come down to our 7 a side game on Thursday night. All gym bunnies but knackered after 10 mins of running around!
12 Oct 2025 11:50:25
Very well thought and poignant post Ben, much the same down here in Sussex too!
Only going one way and sadly that’s the wrong way, mores the pity.
12 Oct 2025 12:57:27
Top post WB - it's all so sad that it is coming to this.
12 Oct 2025 13:54:27
Us oldies show the way. Just done true grit this morning 10km and 32 obstacles in mother hills. My 7th but at 63 not too many more in me. Never seen anybody over 50 on the course. Just my bit of proud.
Anyway. Knackered but alive pic on sightings.
12 Oct 2025 14:46:08
I agree that high level sport is generally for the elite Aus.
If I had the coin, my youngest would have had a chance at being at the last Olympics, but we couldn't afford all the traveling and private lessons.
Making Representative teams here (provincial level) becomes expensive but nicely most clubs have discretionary funds to help the more gifted who's family can't afford it.
13 Oct 2025 06:31:58
Shame about your kid Canada. We can only do so much.
13 Oct 2025 13:12:57
Great initial post Ben. I haven't lived in England now for nigh on 15 years, but I coached a lot over there, and scouted many other matches, so was able to see lots of the bigger set ups. The pitches at Roundhay were always a sight and a half, with so many games going on at once! Does anyone know if it's still like that at weekends there?
13 Oct 2025 18:07:33
This is what Mr Google says!
Roundhay Park has eight grass football pitches for various age groups, including adult-sized, 9v9 for juniors, and 5v5 and 7v7 for mini soccer. The pitches are full-size, have a grass surface, but are not floodlit or indoor.
Adult football pitches: These are full-size pitches for adult games.
Junior football 9v9 pitches: Designed for 9-a-side junior matches.
Mini soccer 5v5 pitches: Smaller pitches for 5-a-side games.
Mini soccer 7v7 pitches: Pitches sized for 7-a-side games.