State of the Game Part 2: Lower League Clubs

Last year, Sky Sports News took a close look at all aspects of grassroots football in this country. State Of The Game focussed on different areas of the national game, such as youth football, women's football, the future of the 11-a-side game and behaviour, from players, officials and supporters - and steps being taken to improve it. Here is STB-Online's edition.

This edition focuses on the impact caused on Lower (or even Non) Leauge Clubs near a big club like Ipswich Town. So far the Non-Leauge Clubs have done fairly well around them. With Lowesoft Town getting to the finals of the FA Trophy. Bury Town getting into the 1^st Round of the FA Cup however if Ipswich were to become even better and become a regularity for promotion to the Premier Leauge or even the “Credit Crunch” to get worse. People would drive away from them causing them to either go Bankrupt or for their attendances to dwindle and their facilities to drop in standard.

The way football is run however in Suffolk could cause a Catch 22. The Non-league's clubs opportunity to get better could be taken away with Ipswich's academy over powering them. I've seen numerous posters asking for players and of course there are still loads about.

However could it be that there are too many football clubs here? Maybe its time to merge a few. Maybe merge Ipswich Town and Ipswich Wanderers, and yes I do expect to be shot for even thinking that. However in the Green 'Un there is news saying:

“Achillies play their games at Salmet Close to the accompaniment of roars from Portman Road.

Tomorrow they get a chance to make their own cheers at the home of Ipswich Town.

Victory against fellow Metaltec SIL First Division Stanton at Haughley (kick-off 2.15pm) will see Alan Middle's side book a place in the final of the Debenham Leisure Centre Suffolk Junior Cup.

With their ground situated just off Belstead Road, Achilles virtually look down on Portman Road where the Junior Cup final will be played.

But in their long history - they have been in the SIL since 1941 - they have never played at Suffolk's premier football ground.”

Now if things like that haven't happened then god knows what other clubs are in a state with. Achillies are becoming popular around Westbourne (an area in Ipswich) and they should have made it that far.

Maybe its time for this to happen. However the FA needs a really big plan to keep clubs going. Take a look at Weymouth. One of the bigger clubs around, yet in a bad way. If other clubs are prepared to help to keep them going at least until the end of the season (see: http://www.saveourclub.co.uk/) then why isn't the FA? I think its insulting that they have to get beaten 9-0 as they had to play their youth team. However is the FA corruptible? Think about the Wimbledon FC situation. That shouldn't have happened yet it did. So why are they letting Weymouth collapse.

What do you think? - There will be a few more parts however it may be late.