The Grassroots of Exeter - Building Up Our Youth Football Teams

Football in the UK is a multi-billion pound industry, as well as a sport. The popularity of the game has created massive gains for the clubs that play at the highest levels, and the money trickles down to grassroots football for youth teams and non-league-playing adult teams. The cities and towns that invest in football teams and organisations now, especially at the youth level, will reap huge rewards in the future and also help to create the sports stars of tomorrow.

Investing In Grassroots Football

Developing youth players, teams, and community sports organisations requires two things: time and money. We need to invest both to create clubs and players that will succeed in the future and build awareness of Exeter and the surrounding areas. A talented 11-year-old from Exeter could be playing in a World Cup in a decade or so, and highlight the city at the highest level. Football Associations and professional leagues can help a lot, but the community needs to generate funds too.

Building up grassroots football clubs now will bring financial investments and public awareness to the community and its businesses in the future. From a small investment in youth and amateur football, huge returns can be reaped down the line. Club sides and the England national team will have talented and accomplished players from Exeter to help them win the big games and bring home trophies, increasing national and international interest in the city.

Equipping Our Youth

One of the most prohibitive factors is budget. Though the support is there from both national and regional Football Associations, it takes investment from the local community to get youth football teams and adult amateur sides up and running. Finding value when sourcing equipment is key to building a successful organisation that will last for seasons to come.

Kits, goals, and other football coach equipment can be inexpensive if you know where to look and work with suppliers to get the biggest bang for your buck when purchasing equipment. Most youth teams will require a variety of football nets for both games and for training, and finding quality suppliers will help small startup teams get more for their money and invest those savings into other aspects of the team. Financial support, not just in money, but also in management, will be crucial to developing teams in Exeter and elsewhere in the country.

It Takes a City

Every city in the United Kingdom is expanding, and Exeter is no exception. Immigration is helping to make our community more diverse, with families from all over the world settling in our city. This creates a continuous flow of talent and tenacity into the area, and many of these talents will be sporting. The next Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo could be settling in today and just needs an opportunity to excel, learn, and develop to achieve greatness. They will take Exeter with them on their journey to the world’s biggest leagues and teams.

An investment in sports takes much more than money. The community needs to invest time and energy into promoting and supporting grassroots teams and making them as accessible as possible to disadvantaged groups within the city. This can include recent immigrants from foreign lands or children from families with low-income levels that may not be able to offer their own time or money in the development of their children. By coming together through sport, we can create a vibrant and cooperative community that supports and empowers every demographic, and every citizen of Exeter.

Investing in grassroots sports and particularly football can help us create a closer community and build the profile of the city internationally. This comes with many benefits, including investment in jobs and new industries as the city gains more exposure at the highest levels of sport.

Not only does investing in grassroots football and other sports offer future financial opportunities, but it also empowers our local youth and helps them develop important life skills like leadership, accepting loss, and the importance of physical fitness.

Taking steps towards growing our youth sports centres and increasing the number of teams that young people can join will help develop the future of the whole community. We can help the young people of Exeter gain and develop the skills they need to succeed in life, and in sports. It takes the adults in the community to build a future for the children of the city, so get involved in any way you can. By working together, we can create a brighter, healthier future for Exeter, its children, and its businesses.