Peter Crouch spoke to 600 grassroots coaches at FACA Conference.
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With over 600 grassroots coaches in attendance at Wembley on Thursday afternoon, England and Tottenham Hotspur striker Peter Crouch revealed that it was his enjoyment of the game in his younger days which saw him develop the determination needed to reach the top.
On the day that The FA launched the Future Game coaching book for grassroots coaches at The FA Coaching Association Conference at Wembley, Crouch took to the stage alongside England Manager Fabio Capello to speak of how his enjoyment of the game at a young age kept him coming back for more.
That is something which The FA’s Director Of Football Development Sir Trevor Brooking had already touched upon earlier in the day and is a key element to the Future Needs philosophy.
“Coaching is so important for every player,” admitted Crouch. “I had a fantastic coach when I was about ten, a guy called Andy Campbell, when I used to play in the Sunday League matches.
“It was about playing matches, enjoying it and we kept wanting to come back again and again for more. It’s important that players enjoy playing.”
The former QPR, Liverpool, Portsmouth and Aston Villa ace also spoke of his belief in the benefit of small-sided football for players in their younger years in order to develop the technical ability needed to progress in the game.
“There’s no point in having nine or ten year olds playing on a pitch the size of Wembley,” he added.
“I was lucky that we played in small-sided games when I was younger and you get more touches of the ball and that’s what we got. It meant we enjoyed football, and developed technical ability and it wasn’t always about winning.
“You can always develop the tactics later.”
