03 Apr How far do cuts to grassroots football affect those within the game?
My idea was to create a VT which will look at the effects of cuts to grassroots football funding and the numerous amounts of players who find themselves held back as a result of the cuts. I planned to speak to managers, players, fans and anyone from the FA or other governing bodies to gain a better insight into the first hand effects of the cuts as well as those who control funding matters from the top to rasie awareness for the increased cuts as well as the ways in which they can affect people deeper than football. My target audience is mainly aimed at anyone who has an interest in football and those who specifically play in grassroots and Sunday league football living across the UK with no specific age group as I believe all ages can have a vested interest in the topic.
I have only faced two issues in my project so far which is some managers, players or club chairmen not wishing to voice their opinions as they fear being blacklisted or facing punishments as a result of the issue brought up in the topic of funding. Another issue was the spread of coronavirus as it put a halt to my filming plans throughout different football grounds and cancelled interviews I had lined up throughout march.
I have some prior knowledge from my years playing in grassroots football and seeing the problems caused by a lack of funding as well as the numerous people who would discuss this with me frequently. For further insight I used the sources below
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/jun/02/tory-cuts-force-sale-710-local-football-pitches
https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/football-clubs-says-council-cuts-15449779
https://www.localgov.co.uk/Council-cuts-damaging-‘grassroots’-grass-pitches-/48434
I plan on having the video production feature separate interviews from people within the game as well as officials to really give a view into how different people react to cuts as well keep a focus on the social aspect of the cuts and how they affect the lives of those who are left without a way to continue playing and developing the game they love. It will also include shots of myself in different grounds conducting interviews and pieces to camera.
I also still have 5 minutes of further unedited footage which I have not used yet and will do so if needed or extra information is needed.
Interviewee’s and Planned interviews:
Giles – Chairman of various clubs passed onto me by We Make Footballers Academy (Interview was planned for 13th March but cancelled due to coronavirus, due to be rescheduled with clubs across West London due to take part)
Conor Hayden – Director of Conquest Academy (Interview due to be rescheduled at a later date with academy founders and players)
Stephen Hosmer – Middlesex County Football League Secretary (Interview conducted on 13thMarch, invited down to do more filming and interviews with coaching staff and players)
