Twelve million
people play grassroots football in England, with more than eight million of
them being adults.
The Football
Association has launched a new report to understand the social and economic
value of the adult grassroots game, in which no-one is paid to play and no-one
pays to watch.
In what is the
largest study of this type to date for a National Governing Body in the UK, the
FA canvassed approximately 9000 participants to provide a
nationally-representative sample that allows for robust statistical analysis.
The report has shown
just how valuable grassroots football is for both the health of individuals and
the nation, saving the NHS over £43 million per year through reduced GP visits
as well as contributing a total of £10.769 billion to the UK economy.
“Grassroots football
is ingrained and embedded in many local communities and, as this important report shows, it makes substantial contributions to the economy
and to the quality of life of those who play the game,” says Michael Kitson, an
economist at Judge Business School at Cambridge University.
“Grassroots football
in England is evolving and developing: there are rising rates of female
participation, new formats of the game and new opportunities to participate.
“This report shows
the significant impact that playing football, in all its forms, has on the
economy and on the quality of life of those playing the game.
“It has frequently
been argued that playing football improves health, social engagement and
self-efficacy.
“This report not
only provides rigorous support for many of these benefits, it also provides
quantitative estimates of the impacts which show the substantial social return
from playing football.
“Although measuring
direct economic impacts is important, this does not fully capture how
activities, such as playing football, may influence the quality of life.
“Those who play
football report significantly higher levels of general health, happiness,
confidence and trust compared to those who do not play sport.
“Participating in
football is associated with improved physical and psychological health. Regular
footballers are healthier than those who do not play the game, and this means
that they visit the doctor less often.”
Responding to the
launch of the Football Association’s report into the social and economic value
of adult grassroots football, Chairman of the Local Government Association’s
Culture, Tourism and Sport Board, Cllr Gerald Vernon-Jackson said: “Councils
recognise the importance of having accessible, good quality football pitches.
“However, only one
in three grass pitches are of adequate quality and one in six matches are
called off due to poor quality.
“While the FA’s
investment in grassroots football will go some way to maintaining local
pitches, at the current rate of investment it will take over 25 years before
local pitches are brought up to a good standard.
“This is why it is
vital that the forthcoming Spending Review recognises the importance of
grassroots football and ensures that councils are properly funded to meet the
needs of their residents.”
