Clubs, players and parents  across the country are telling this website they need more grounds and better pitches to train and play on.

In Sydney, Hurlstone Park Wanderers have launched their Space to Play project, with an online campaign to gather 3000 signatures on a petition to push council to convert a car park into mini football fields (www.hurlstoneparkwanderers.org.au).

The club writes in their petition that their current set-up at their Ewen Park HQ is inadequate for the growing needs of their 1200 players.

‘In 2008 City of Canterbury’s Plan of Management for Ewen Park identified the need for a new half-size football field at the eastern end of the park, improved drainage for the existing fields, new changing rooms, storage facilities, a cafe and off-street parking.

‘This would take pressure off the existing facilities at Ewen Park, and provide more opportunities for local residents to enjoy a healthy, active lifestyle.

‘After years of stalling, it’s time that these much-needed facilities were built.’

While grassroots football isn’t the only sport that is demanding better facilities, football is the biggest participation sport of all footballs. And councils need to understand this, say those involved. 

In Melbourne, Brighton Soccer Club has approximately 1100 registered players. The club is having to turn players away, according to a famous Dad of one Brighton player. Jesper Olsen, the former Manchester United and Danish World Cup star, says growth in numbers in that part of Melbourne has been an eye-opener.

“And about 800 registered players in Sandringham with about 60 teams, just down the road. It’s amazing. Huge growth. What we need is better facilities,” he told au.fourfourtwo.com.

This anecdotal evidence is backed up by independent statistics.

In Victoria, total player registrations saw an overall increase of almost 8% to 60,689 in 2010

Junior registrations were up almost 10% in that time. Female football in particular is booming with overall registrations up 22%. Futsal has also exploded with almost a 25% increase in Victoria last year.

“Brighton uses Dendy Park, it’s a huge area but again you can’t train in the goals because they’re kept for the weekend games and all the clubs have similar problems,” added Olsen.

“Facilities are certainly not living up to what registered numbers need. And it’s not just football, it’s the social side too. Maybe building club-houses so parents stay longer and have a chat together, have a coffee, and their kids will stay and play for longer.

“It’s what communities are all about.”

FFV last year engaged an independent research company to undertake a second survey on football facilities in Victoria.

The survey of club administrators and local councils found that current football facilities remain “inadequate” in meeting the needs of the world game, said the FFV’s annual report.

The survey found that 59% of clubs said they had to turn more than 5,500 potential players away in season 2010.

Staggeringly, 32% of councils said their football facilities were worse than those of other sports.

The solution? “Friendlier councils,” suggested Olsen.