“I found the GUBOG website through an article by Dwyer Scallion and it has really struck a chord with me.

This year I became involved in my sons introduction to 'organised' football, a league for Under 7's. Although there was a lot of effort put in by well meaning parents (kits, kit bags and even sponsors) something bugged me. Reading your website gave me a clear picture of why I was truly unhappy at the end of the season.

We parents did not create an environment that encouraged our kids to enjoy themselves unquestioningly. Surfing the GUBOG website reminded me of the privileged introduction that I had to sport and play, which my children don't have in todays world. They don't have the FREEDOM we did to go out, without adult supervision, and create our own games and our own rules and our own fun. I was brought up relatively poor working class in the 1970's and only now do I realise how lucky I was!

Our kids only get one childhood and I am now very clear on what I want this to be. As unstructured and free of adult over-supervision as possible. Oh, we will be around, as todays world just doesn't permit the same freedoms I enjoyed. But I can already envision arranging get togethers where the kids make up the rules (all of them!) and we only watch on the periphery.

We'll stay in the league next year - the shirts still fit! But it will be my mission to ensure that we put total emphasis on the elements that make enjoyment the fundamental outcome (no one excluded, the freedom to make decisions, to learn from making mistakes, try different positions, etc).

I have also begun writing a letter to the other parents, sharing these thoughts. Please wish me luck. I think a couple will disagree with a proposal that puts fun ahead of results. That is a tragedy for the kids involved. I am positive that those others who agree with me and stay are going to really enjoy next season!

A sincere thank you to and all involved at Give us back our game for giving me the inspiration I now have.”

“In my brother’s U7s team the same players play every week even though there is a squad of 13 to choose from. Some boys sit on the bench week in week out because the coach says they are not good enough. He says he can’t bring them on because most of the games are too close and he can’t afford to bring his players off.”

“My son is 13 but like me, only short – he’s about the height of a 10 year old. He doesn’t let this get him down; indeed he uses it to his own advantage and is never intimidated by derogatory remarks. However, despite his excellent stamina and speed it does mean that he is at a disadvantage on the football pitch. He’s on an U14 team and turns up at every practice, is punctual for every game and respectful to the manager and coach. However, due to the competitive attitude of the manager and the league he very rarely gets a game. I feel so disheartened for him as he sits patiently on the subs bench week after week hoping to get a game. He simply wants to play but is deemed not good enough.”

“I am a parent of a 11 yr old football mad son, who in the last 3 yrs has been to hell and back, he is normally one of the children who is never picked or if he is, he is one of the ones on the bench, and never has the buzz of starting a game. He is not the best footballer; he lacks confidence and is still scared of tackling other players. His passion and love and knowledge of the game knocks spots of many of the boys that are better than him. Many tears have been shed, and many words have passed between us and the coaches. Still our son turns up for training putting all he has into it hoping he can somehow impress the coaches to let him play. Our son played had his 1st full game 2 weeks ago; tears were shed, but tears of joy from him and me as his mother, who also has been to hell and back.” “I have recently been party to how ‘normal’ clubs treat junior football. My grandson who for the last three years supported his under 12s team was dismissed from his club, not required today or next season, in a very unsympathetic way, and this by a manager who constantly shouts at the boys from the sideline. Subsequently I have a very dejected young eleven year old who wants to play football as he enjoys it. He is not a good footballer and is not that fit but has always turned up for training and matches though seldom selected.”

“I have a son who is now 18 and has never liked football (which I love) principally because of the horrible experiences he had on muddy fields with big goals and demented parents on a Saturday mornings at the age of 7.”

I am a Grandfather of 2 boys of 7 years old they play in 7v7 a side team. I am disgusted with some of the things their coach tells them; ‘don't let the opposition pass on any account, pull their shirt if you have too!’ And you wander why only a handful of UK born players are in the Premier League. Our kids are coached like robots, told to do what their coach wants and do not let the kids use their own vision I was in Mexico not long ago watching all the kids play on the beach at 5 o'clock in the evening, not an adult around, no referee, just like we would play 45 years ago. The parents should take them to the park and keep their distance and leave the kids to play by themselves.”

“I've seen many a child suffer from 'pushy' parents, and the pressure can make the kids scared stiff to make a mistake (much akin to the England team last night!).”

My son plays in an under 8's team. He has coaches and parents shouting and screaming (his words!) from the sidelines. My wife & I watch from the other side of the pitch because it is so embarrassing. He always has to play in defence but is a general all round footballer and we don't think he should be constricted in this way.”

“I went to my first junior football match yesterday. I've never watched a match at this level. I watched the local under 7's play. It was awful. I know the coach very well, he was the ref and he coached his side throughout the match. Not only that, the parents, grandparents and everyone else on the touchline also shouted their instructions as well. I spoke to a couple of the boys afterwards, and the sad thing was that the key point for them was that they won. The indoctrination of win, win, was already there. A great shame on our coaching abilities.”

“My son is age 6 and started playing for a team in January 07 and the attitude of the coaches there is "win at all costs" My son is small for his age and does not have bags of confidence, and I have had to watch him every week be brought on as a sub in the second half, and then spend the rest of the weekend explaining to him that it is not because he is rubbish at football. I would like to take him out completely but he is desperate to play and wants to stay with his friends.”

“I am a under nine player, and we have just won the Millennium League, and I feel sad, I came off the pitch crying because as a midfielder I cannot get all over the pitch at the same time. Two managers keep shouting different things to me. Who do I listen to, or do I do my own thing? I don't know anymore all I know is I love football; I want to play football all the time, but why is it making me sad?” I have written this on behalf of my son.”

“I am 15 year old FA qualified referee and week in week out receive lots of abuse from the sidelines. It’s taking over youth football and its getting out of hand. A few weeks back I was assaulted by a linesman who threw my own linesman flag at me which struck me in the chest.”

“My son joined an FA accredited football club a few years ago. When he joined he had to train for a whole season with no chance of a game, which he accepted, just to get into a team. He really enjoyed the training, but obviously it was hard not playing at all. Anyway, the next season a few kids moved on up and my son got his hard earned place. He played a full season and really enjoyed it. The next season he went back to the team to find he was effectively off the team, as he wasn’t progressing as quickly as the manager wanted. Remember my son was only 8! Anyway obviously he was devastated and even 7 months later he still will not talk about it.”