FA's "revolutionary" youth football vote (From Daily Echo)

FA's "revolutionary" youth football vote

6:54pm Monday 28th May 2012 in Local Football

Revolutionary changes to youth football proposed by the Football Association have received overwhelming backing by the organisation's shareholders.

Some 87 per cent of the 778 votes cast were in favour of the plans which will see youngsters playing in smaller-sided games, with smaller pitches and goals, and more emphasis on learning skills rather than winning.

FA director of football development Sir Trevor Brooking has called the vote "as important as anything that will happen this summer. The Euros are about the here and now - this vote is about the future."

A meeting of county FAs, clubs and other bodies at Wembley today saw 679 votes cast in favour of the proposals and 99 against.

The changes will be phased in for the 2014-15 season and see 5 v 5 for seven and eight-year-olds, and 9 v 9 for 11 and 12-year-olds.