Postcode Lottery

Was thinking about why Scotland struggles to produce talented players now and there's obviously a number of factors but one that sprung to mind was the postcode lottery that comes with where these kids live.

Being in the construction industry, I've been involved in building new housing estates. These new estates often have no football pitches, or any open green spaces at all.. Just houses and streets which have 'No ball games' signs plastered everywhere.

Then there's the issue of the people living into these houses. Barely anyone knows their next neighbour, you're lucky if they've spoken a word to each other. How are kids supposed to go out and meet each other for a kickabout under these circumstances?

There's also the issue with school placements now.. where kids living 10-20 miles away from each other attend one school. How are these kids supposed to just meet up for a kickabout? Communities are fast becoming a relic.

The areas where there are still communities tend to be council estates and the like and they come with their own problems. Without stereotyping to heavily, many of the people living in these areas aren't too well off (I believe I can say this having come from one of these areas). And from experience I can say that a lot of promising young players from these areas are lost to drink, drugs and other circumstances.

It seems the loss of community coupled with a hopelessness in the ones that still exist are working to kill off the production and development of our kids. I'm not sure what the solution is, if there even is one, but what's everyone else's thoughts on this?

Do you think where you grow up is as big a factor in the decline of our young players as lack of facilities/coaching?