How’s everyone doing? Slow start to the year grassroots wise due to the weather! My club have not only got waterlogged pitches, but the 4Gs were hire for training are out is of action (not quite ‘all weather’). Anyone managed to get any games on? Any stand out games or scores?

Another weekend of grim weather ahead, storms, wind and rain. Fixtures looking likely for everyone or is a weekend off on the horizon?

How's the grassroots army looking for the weekend? Everyone's pitches recovered from the snow and ice enough to play ?Any interesting fixtures ahead?

Welcome to all new followers, love to know your involvement with the grassroots/amateur game. How you got into ? What you do? Why it's better than the top flight pro game 😀

Hardest position on the field bar none, especially at that age. What an effort!

Last time out Lewis was POTM making a sick 16 saves. ⚽ #grassroots #football #juniorgrassroots #ogwellyouthfc #goalkeeper #U10s

Oh now that's a serious adventure! Should be a brilliant game as well, I will definitely be tuning in.

Here's one that always interests me, I know most (me included) grow up supporting a large club, or at least a pro club. Since getting into grass roots, or non league fandom, how much has that changed your relationship with the club you grew up supporting? Does it matter less? Has that love gone?

@davenich0.bsky.social Thanks for the follow and recommendation Dave. Hope you are well!

Thanks for following Emily, we're still just getting started but really hoping to build a community where people can support each other, ask questions and share experiences. Would be good to have him (and you!) onboard if you can tempt him over.

The problem is with the 4g a the price isn’t it. Not many volunteer originations want the pressure/expense or running them so it falls to them being run externally and then to end up having to pay hefty fees. Subsided 4g usage & investment in grass pitches is what is needed

That’s a very fair point, I’m a rugby town so same potential impact with that in terms of overlap.

July and Aug is hit and miss and junior level anyway due to family holidays. Very rare most teams have enough to put a team out most weeks in the school hols, even more rare that you have the right players to be able to do any real shape work with

My clubs pitches usually only get work done in July anyway by the council, and they are always ready by early Sept for season start, so think it could still work from that perspective.

@wanderingtractor.bsky.social thanks for the follow mate! Taken in any decent games this weekend?

Personally it drives me mad that seasons finish mid May when we’re just had a couple of months of better conditions. If it ran until 2nd week in July (when schools break up) that’s another 8 weekends, light midweek nights and pitches in good condition. Crazy that we stop just as that happens.

Question for the UK based followers. Bearing in mind the lack of quality pitches and the price of 4G. Is there a case to make grassroots football a summer activity. Or at last amend the schedule?

@teeggie.bsky.social thanks for following. Hope all is going well with you under 8s, are you enjoying it?

Here, here. You just forgot to end it with ‘and inexplicably enjoying every single minute’

Yeah, they will need an early shout. Good luck mate!

Looks like my clubs first weekend of the season to be impacted by the weather, how’s everyone else looking this weekend? Games likely to be on?

Aaaw the poor lad, can definitely picture a few I’ve had who would have done the same 😂

All very true. I so it a s privilege and responsibility. I'm 47 and I still remember the names of almost everyone I played with at u13s and so on. It's a massive part of childhood for thousands of kids, and a real responsibility for coaches to ensure the memories they form are positive.

Haha yeah, he should be the lock one! I've had my lad since he was 5, he's 15 now. Had to sign him to a high level sunday team as hes a fantastic player, but also wanted to play for me and with his friends. Tricky balance at times.

Any more good shouts from new followers of any funny or crazy grassroots moments?
#grassrootsfootball
#grassroots

😂😂. I’ve heard that a few times. Was it due to the coach not coming back, an instant enjoyment on your part or a mixture of both?

Oh wow, it did properly get you didn’t it 😂. Good work mate. Still got plenty of the lads who started at 7’s?

That’s incredible progress, great to see such uptake for the game at amateur level. You guys are clearly doing plenty right 👍👍

Thanks to everyone who has followed over the last couple of days. Would love to hear your grassroots story. How many years, age groups, levels, wondering if we are just a little mad 😂

@ken7601.bsky.social cheers for the follow Ken. What’s your grassroots story mate? What ages are you involved with?