How to Maintain Team Shape as a Coach
If you watch any Premier League game in the modern age (especially those involving sides such as Manchester City and Chelsea), you’ll see an increased focus on team shape both in and out of possession. This not only enables players to remain compact and press the ball...
Grassroots Football Explored – A Look at Portugal
Whenever you launch a grassroots or youth football team, there’s an aspiration that this side will ultimately fulfill its optimal potential. This isn’t always the case, however, with the Portuguese national side offering a relevant case in point. Despite the success...
Exploring Grassroots Football in Switzerland
Switzerland enjoyed a stellar run to the quarter-finals of Euro 2020 (including a superb penalty shootout win over current world champions France), with this capturing the attention of fans from across the globe. However, this success won’t have come as a surprise to...
Will Euro 2020 Produce a Boost for Grassroots Football in the UK?
It’s an immense shame that England’s heartbreaking Euro 2020 final defeat to Italy resulted in such angry post-match scenes, especially as the Three Lions historic run had helped to unify much of the country during the previous three months. However, there can be no...
Grass Roots Set-up around the World – Italy
Grass Roots Set-up around the World - Italy While the grassroots football system in Italy hasn’t always been widely celebrated, it has begun to earn some international accolades in recent years. Most recently, the ‘Divisione Calcio Paralimpico e Sperimentale’ has won...
Grass Roots Set-up around the World – Spain
Grass Roots Set-up around the World We’ve already written extensively about grassroots football in Germany and Italy, with both of these nations having revamped their youth setups over the course of the last 20 years or more. Another country that has undergone a...
How to Use the Pitch Size to Your Advantage
When Wales took on the mighty Brazil in a friendly match in May 2000, supporters were concerned about how the Welsh fullbacks would cope with the brilliant wing play of players like Cafu, Ze Roberto and the precocious Denilson. Fortunately, Mark Hughes had an answer,...
Grassroots Set-ups Around the World – A Look at Germany
It’s fair to say that Germany entered Euro 2000 in high spirits, with the team focused on defending the title that they won in England at the end of the 1996 tournament. However, the German’s hotly-anticipated defence was left in tatters after just three group stage...
Which Country has the Best Grass Roots Setup in the World?
Grassroots football has come under incredible focus lately, particularly with the proposed formation of the European Super League and its potential impact on the existing pyramid structure in England. However, we’ve seen billions pumped into grassroots systems...
Introducing England Football – The New Home of Grassroots on These Shores
With the delayed European Championships fast approaching, all eyes will be on the England national team as they look to end a 55-year major tournament drought. There’s no doubt that a heavily funded grassroots structure has been at the heart of England’s recent...
The Story of Birmingham Blaze FC: An LGBTQ+ Sunday League Football Club
The sound of the thud of the ball, the calling and shouting, the rustling of the net. We’ve all heard these noises when we’re playing down our local 5-a-side pitches. But not all of us would have heard the fascinating story of LGTBQ+ Sunday league football team,...
The 5 Best Ways to Watch a Football Match
If you’re a football fan, it’s thankfully not hard to catch your favourite team playing - even if you can’t be there in person. In fact, there have never been so many ways to watch football, whether you’re at home, at a mate’s house or out and about with friends. But...
How to Attract Players to Your Grassroots Club
Football is one of the most popular sports in the world, while it’s certainly the most-watched and followed in the UK. Because of this, we have a thriving grassroots scene on these shores, which is renowned for generating some of the finest British players of recent...
A Brief History of Football
It remains one of the world’s most loved sports, and one which crosses international boundaries, cultures and all demographics. Football - or ’soccer’, as it might be known in your area - also has a fascinating history about which you may not be aware. Why look into...
An Introduction to Futsal
What is Futsal? Futsal is a variant of football that is played indoors on a hard-court floor, smaller than a normal football pitch. It does have similar features to five-a-side football such as the number of players (one goalkeeper and four outfield players) but no...
Knit vs Woven: What is the Difference?
We sell a variety of woven and knit products across our website and we are often asked what is the difference between the two when purchasing shorts, pants, jackets and tracksuits. The main difference between woven and knit fabrics is in the thread or yarn that...
Benefits of Base Layer
Base layers look good but they aren't just a fashion statement. Base layers are garments made to purpose with technology to help improve player performance. From aiding in muscle recovery to improving comfort, there are benefits to base layers. Muscle Recovery The...
What is the Difference Between a Training Ball and a Match Ball?
What is the difference between a training ball and a match ball? Is a common question in the footballing world that may initially appear obvious but can actually prove rather difficult to determine. The two most immediate differences are the individual ball's purpose...
Stay Hydrated
There is a reason why we regularly see players utilising stoppages to grab a water bottle and rehydrate during football matches. Being adequately hydrated can be the difference between having that extra bit of energy to get past an opponent or running out of stream at...
Forward’s Movement
This drill is aimed at developing a forward’s movement. There are three demonstrable examples to work on which can produce dynamic attacks for your team: movement with the ball, movement against the ball and offside to onside. Movement with the Ball Form a back four...
An Introduction To Marketing Your Football Club
Over the past decade, the game of football we all love has changed quite radically off the pitch. We have attended and presented at a number of County FA workshops and one that stood out for us was Hampshire FA’s “Marketing & PR” workshop. The clubs in attendance...
Winger Challenges
This drill focuses on winger-specific challenges that look to increase a wide player’s effectiveness through individual components including cutting inside, deliveries and running in behind. Cutting Inside One player in the centre of the field plays the ball to...
Full-Back Challenges
This drill is position-specific and focuses on challenging the full-backs within your team, honing their ability to cross, block crosses and switch play to add new dimensions to your team. Crossing Set-up two coned lines forming a path towards the 18-yard box Two...
Striker Challenges
This drill features striker-specific challenges that look to improve and develop a striker’s individual contribution and ability. This is achieved through drills that focus on reactions, running in behind and quick counters. Reactions Litter the box with a number of...
Centre-Back Challenges
This drill looks to promote proactive centre-backs for optimum effectiveness through three different components: screening, breaking lines and blocking shots. Screening Set-up the area to accommodate your needs and intended outcome Players at each end combine passes...
No.10 Challenges
This drill centres around the no. 10 role and looks to strengthen individual aspects of a player’s game in this position to create dynamic and innovative attacks through screening and subverting previous drills surrounding the offside trap and blocking shots....
Discount Football Kits Partners with MyClubPro
We are very excited to announce our latest partnership with one of the UK’s fastest growing club website providers MyClubPro. Not only do they share our passion for grassroots football but their website solutions are tailored to this level of the game. Here is what...
How To Become A Football Club Secretary
cssThe secretary is one of the most important roles in a club or league. The main point of contact for your County FA, team managers and clubs/leagues, the secretary will look after the administrative duties for the club/league. Often, a volunteer who loves the game...
How To Become A Football Club Treasurer
When starting a football team, one of the most overlooked but equally important roles within a football club is the club treasurer. A club treasurer is integral to the smooth running of the club, so you’ll need to work closely with the entire club committee. As the...
How To Become An FA Charter Standard Adult Club
Why become an FA Charter Standard Adult Club FA Charter Standard was launched in 2001, WHY? To raise the standards of grassroots football and give clubs such as yours the opportunity to provide the best possible environments and give players the best possible...