Ray Calls For Respect

http://www.thefa.com/TheFA/Respect/ Hollywood tough guy Ray Winstone shows his support for The FA’s Respect Parent Guide to Youth Football Winstone is here to promote The FA’s new Respect Parent Guide after research showed that more than 7,000 youngsters had hung up their boots over the last couple of years due to pressure from the sidelines. Winstone believes that parents need to lose the “win at all costs” attitude and bring some enjoyment back to the game: “Kids want their parents to watch them play football but they want to be supported by them, not embarrassed. The FA Respect programme has already had a major breakthrough in the grassroots game with dissent figures showing an 8% improvement nationwide on last season’s totals while 567 leagues have shown their support by becoming Respect Leagues. With one in three matches taking place across the country without a qualified match official, The FA is aiming to recruit 8,000 new referees by 2012. Other FA plans to improve pitch side behaviour include teaming up with the Football Foundation to provide grants for Respect Barriers which ensure that spectators are standing well away from the touchline at youth football games. Check out www.TheFA.com/respect for more info on The FA’s new Respect Parent Guide Uploaded for the FA