Argentina

After witnessing the passion for football in Argentina and the lethargy I see in the UK then I understand how they get to choose between Messi, Aguero, Tevez, Higuain, De Maria and Levezzi whilst we get to choose from Rooney, Defoe, Carroll and Wellbeck!

i gave up on the national team after we failed to qualify for the euro's in 2008, i honestly dont care if we win, lose or draw, i just hope that our players dont get injured tbh, since beckham was dropped (say what you like about him he was always fantastic for england and actually gave a shiiiite when pulling on the 3 lions jersey) and the shocking decision to move paul scholes to the left wing to accomodate frank lampard into the side(who isnt fit to lace scholesy's boots) ive lost faith in the national team as an institution

There's more to do in England. That's as simple an answer as there is.

Get this for a true story about grass roots footy problems here.

A couple of years ago I was running a local Sunday League team. It was August and we wanted to play a pre-season friendly on our home pitch. I rang the council and they told me wait a few weeks saying they couldn't put the goals up yet as it was still the cricket season and part of the boundary ran across the pitch. Fair enough. A couple a weeks went by so I tried again only to be told by some council half wit that if they put the goals up too early "it would attract kids and they would play in the goalmouths". Honestly...I could not believe my ears. Can you imagine this attitude anywhere else in the world. And we wonder why we struggle to produce talented players.

Bungee, yeah, i can believe that, a local shipping company has closed down our beach that's been used as common land by the locals for something like 100 years, they did this over the past few years, now all of a sudden, there is a plan to turn the town into a £300m water park.

You couldn't make it up.

Bungee, the really scary think is that your story doesn't surprise me in the slightest. Having dealt with councils to book pitches in the past I can only assume they employee the most vacuous morons possible.

There is something seriously wrong when those that control our parklands actively discourage kids from getting exercise.

Most the knockabout pitches I played on when I was a kid were school pitches. I was lucky enough to have a secondary school 50 yds away. Basically it was like a free leisure centre on the doorstep....football goals, hockey goals to play headers and volleys in, tennis courts, etc. None of it locked up...just had to mindful when the caretaker wandered up, which was not very often.

Now....Jeez....razor wire, 12 ft high fences, cameras...the lot! It's like a prison. Nobody can get in. Nobody gets out.

Not saying it is right or wrong...but it is certainly different. And I know which era I prefer....

Yep, different eras though. Friend of mine is a teacher, if the school isn't locked up they have a huge cleaning bill to get rid of the graffiti. That's the reason it's locked up.

I know....nobody did graffiti when I was growing up cos everyone played footy or cricket. Nobody was bored. And like I said we were scared of a caretaker. He must have been 60!!! Can you imagine kids now scared of a grandad in a blue boiler suit?!?!? Mental.

5 Stars !!

Good article, even better contribution.

I have to admit the point about local authorities stifling our progress does ring true with what i have seen over the years.