IT WAS ironic to read that the Football Association (FA) are to invest £200m, over the next four years, in improving grassroots football in England whilst, at the same time, a deal, worth £820m for the FA, was agreed for overseas broadcasting rights.

Put this together with the obscene amounts of money swilling around in the Premier League, who act independently from the FA, and £200m, whilst welcome, is a drop in the financial ocean.

Contrast the above with the amazing efforts of Mile Oak Wanderers who have 20 teams for young people aged from 7yrs to 18 but who find it very difficult to get proper pitches and changing facilities for all their players. They are run on a purely voluntary basis with dads, mums and other adults giving up significant amounts of time to coach, support and encourage all their teams.

I've been lucky enough to attend part of their annual prizegiving and they are an absolute credit to the city, and to football in general, and the benefits to the young people, in terms of physical and mental health, are plain to see.

Unfortunately, though, funding is being cut nationally for local councils to maintain and develop their open spaces and sports facilities.

This means that it is vital that our national football bodies start to properly put their money where their mouths are.

For instance, the UK currently has just under 700 full-size 3G (artificial, all weather) pitches.

In contrast, Germany had nearly 4,000. This is, frankly, pathetic.

The FA and Premier League need to urgently step up to the mark and give local grassroots and youth football the priority it deserves.

Councillor Peter Atkinson

North Portslade