Former Pompey star David James calls on Government and local councils to help save grassroots football clubs from folding

Goalkeeper David James featured for Liverpool, Manchester City, West Ham and Portsmouth during an illustrious playing career and won more than 50 England caps.
Former Pompey and England goalkeeper David James is calling on the Government and local councils to do their bit to stop grassroots football clubs from folding as a result of the pandemicFormer Pompey and England goalkeeper David James is calling on the Government and local councils to do their bit to stop grassroots football clubs from folding as a result of the pandemic
Former Pompey and England goalkeeper David James is calling on the Government and local councils to do their bit to stop grassroots football clubs from folding as a result of the pandemic

But now he's at the forefront of leading the fight into a very different battle - making sure the grassroots game in this country survives the coronavirus pandemic.

The former England ace, 50, has teamed up with Utilita Energy to launch a petition asking for the Government to act and prevent clubs across Britain from folding.

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The 'Final Whistle' campaign is not pleading for funding - instead, it’s calling for all Government or council-owned football facilities to temporarily provide free access, or at least subsidise rental charges, for hard-up teams.

James is well aware of the importance of the grassroots game in this country.

He began playing for Welywn Pegasus youth team as a 10-year-old before being picked up by an academy, and was even playing in five-a-side leagues in Hertfordshire prior to the latest lockdown.

And James says the Government must act to ensure opportunities to play football at the lowest levels remain for children and adults.

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He told The News: ‘The important part here is that most sectors of society are looking for financial help from the Government - understandably and correctly - but this isn’t about asking the Government for money, it’s asking them not to charge as much money so these clubs can survive.

‘One of the most important factors is the social aspect when it comes to facilities.

'There might be a bar, they’re more common than most things, but it might be halls.

'Again, because we don’t know when we’re going to come out of lockdown, this isn’t a case of by a certain date this will stop, but at least to be able for the Government to put something in place so the clubs can get by in a very desperate time - this isn’t a forever thing.

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‘The cost for hiring pitches in England - I think on average there’s £26,000 per club per season - goes towards hiring facilities.

'Rather than asking the Government for money, it’s just reducing the costs for these facilities.

‘On top of this, as opposed to just those facilities, schools have tremendous facilities which could be used by grassroots clubs either subsidised or free usage.'

Damning figures in the report state that 12 per cent of grassroots clubs nationwide - around 4,000 - are at risk of folding if nothing is done.

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The grassroots game is estimated to contribute just under £11 billion to society.

But James says it's not just a financial cost to pay if nothing is done. The Pompey FA Cup winner pinpointed the physical and mental impact it could have on footballers at the lowest levels.

The other side of this is the amount of money generated from grassroots football, which is billions of pounds, goes to the Government,’ he added.

‘If the Government can help these clubs survive, it’s going to be a benefit to them.

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‘It’s also to mention there’s a mental, physical health and social wellbeing - there are so many different factors.

'For the causal user and looking at the long term process, if you dissuade people from getting involved to start with because of fees and access to facilities, then it’s going to have a larger impact on football in general.'

To sign the petition, visit www.change.org and search ‘Stop the Government from blowing the final whistle on grassroots football’