Stars launch Grassroots Football Show

Graham Taylor believes today’s children must fall back in love with the game if England are to ever succeed at international level.

The former England, Villa and Wolves manager also believes the present generation must respect officials if they are to benefit from the game as 7,000 referees are lost to English football every year.

How we develop footballers has come under the spotlight following England’s failure to reach the Euro 2008 finals, and Taylor believes the issue of grass roots is of vital importance.

“We all started at grass roots level – even a certain David Beckham – but without the love of the game that we have as a youngster, they won’t want to do it, because all youngsters take to something they enjoy doing,” said Taylor, now 63.

“And if there is no discipline, then it’s very hard to get enjoyment.

“I drive around on Sunday mornings and I will often see games involving children and adults playing football.

“Often I will stop my car, pull up and have a look, and even from 50-60 yards away, I look at the kids’ faces and no one is smiling.

“Enjoyment of the game has to be paramount.”

Under a pilot scheme run at the moment involving youngsters, an initiative to improve respect to officials has been introduced whereby only the captain can communicate with the referee.

Speaking at the launch of the Grass Roots Football LIVE even at the NEC, Taylor says he’s a convert of the idea and believes its introduction at the highest level and would improve discipline.

“How I would love it if the FA and Premier League say only the captains can speak to the referees,” he said. “It would certainly hit the headlines.

“If I ever went back in the game, that’s one of the things I would do – to see respect to referees.

“Being out of the game in a full-time capacity for almost five years, I’ve been able to sit back and take a view, and I can say it’s embarrassing to see how our top players behave.”

Former Villa striker Stan Collymore, who also attended the event, had plenty of brushes with referees but believes the idea would improve standards of behaviour.

“I know both sides of it from my own experiences and because I’ve got a godson of 12 and they copy what the senior players do,” he said.

“If we only allowed the skipper to talk to the referees that can only be a good thing.”

Sir Trevor Brooking, the FA’s director of football development, believes the problem of discipline also extends to parents.

“There are two areas – players and mums and dads – and we’re looking to launch pilot schemes to address the issue,” he said.

“But the game has to be fun for youngsters and sometimes the parents take the fun out of it by living the game through the youngsters which is something we’re trying to get away from.”

Grass Roots Football LIVE is Britain’s biggest football show and runs at the NEC from Friday, May 30 to Sunday, June 1.

Over 15,000 people are expected to attend. Former England stars Trevor Francis and Ray Wilkins, ex-England and Arsenal coach Don Howe and former Liverpool Academy director Steve Heighway will run coaching sessions.

Collymore’s Mavericks six-a-side team containing former Villa team-mate Paul Merson, Matthew Le Tissier and Lee Sharpe will play two challenge matches and there will be an FA ‘Learning Theatre’ for coaches attended by former Albion managing director Brendon Batson.