July...the fixtures are out...the countdown to the new season has begun! Groundsmen across the country are treating pitches for the season ahead, club secretaries are organising sponsors and kits and coaches are starting to prepare their players for promotion play-offs and relegation dogfights.

Behind the scenes grassroots football never stops! The 2009/10 season is, potentially, one of the most demanding ever; the British weather has left many pitches unplayable, there are tough targets to be delivered as part of the FA's National Game Strategy and community clubs face continual challenges retaining and motivating players, coaches and volunteers.

The National Game Strategy, launched in 2008, set ambitious targets to guide development until 2012. Feedback from year one acknowledges that whilst mini-soccer, youth boys' and girls' football is experiencing a period of growth and stability it is evident that the real challenge is the recruitment and retention of adult male (11 a side) football. Our recent playing pitch strategy work across the country in Harlow, Salford, Southampton and Sunderland reinforces this picture. Local authorities are still faced with the issue of supporting clubs in their areas to address this.

(image) Widely regarded as the ‘beautiful game', the facilities for many of our grassroots footballers are quite the opposite.

Poorly drained pitches and dilapidated changing rooms are some of the uglier sides of football. If we are all serious about retaining and recruiting new players it is vital that facilities support local clubs rather than give them another thing to worry about.

Recognising the need to develop both pitches and associated ancillary facilities, a number of forward thinking authorities are now embarking upon investment strategies; taking the traditional playing pitch strategy one step further to translate identified needs into development plans and funding applications for new and improved facilities.

(image) Pitches are also tied into BSF planning and an up-to-date playing field strategy is now a requirement. Whilst BSF offers the opportunity to provide improved and higher quality facilities which are open and accessible to local sports clubs there is also a danger that in some cases these facilities may price local clubs out of the market.

Putting aside the wider government programmes or political agendas, it is clear that The FA, County FAs, leagues and clubs must work hard over the next four years to halt the drop-out between youth and adult football and provide a range of flexible competition opportunities - local authority support will be key to the success of this work!

Find out more about KKP's services and expertise in playing pitch strategies