Avishayes coach gets his BIG match! (From This is The West Country)

Avishayes coach gets his BIG match!

10:51am Wednesday 26th September 2012 in Somerset Sport

AVISHAYES Combe Youth Football Club coach Martin Fielder has been starring in a new video to promote nine-a-side football on pitches the right size for youngsters.

He went to St George’s Park, the Football Association’s new centre for training and development, where a ‘Big Pitch’ had been set up.

Measuring a massive 150 x 100 yards, with 32 x 9ft goals, it gave adults a taste of what it feels like for a ten-year-old to play on a full-size adult pitch.

Martin responded to a request for volunteers put out on Twitter by FA youth football development manager Nick Levett. Fourteen grassroots coaches attended and were treated to a buffet lunch before being escorted to the ‘Big Pitch’.

The video is being used in support of the FA Youth Development Review and the introduction of nine-a-side at Under-11 and Under-12 level on appropriate-sized pitches and goals.

Martin said: “I’ve always been in favour of the move to nine-a-side football but after playing on the ‘Big Pitch’ it reinforced how ridiculous it is for ten-year-olds to play on adult pitches.”

Avishayes Combe Under-11s have started their first season of nine-a-side football on a new pitch at Forton Rangers FC using new 16 x 7ft goals. They play in the Yeovil and District Mini Soccer League.