Minister for Sport Gerry Sutcliffe MP has thrown his support behind The FA's National Game Strategy - a move that will see £200m invested in grassroots football over the next five years.On Tuesday FA Chief Executive Brian Barwick, Chairman Lord Triesman and Director of Football Development Sir Trevor Brooking will launch the initiative.
Across the country there are 7 million players, 125,000 teams, 1,700 leagues and over 400,000 volunteers involved in the national game each week.
The FA wants everyone to have an opportunity to be involved in football, something Sutcliffe is supportive of.
"Success at the very top of the game is dependent on strong foundations at the bottom," he said. "So I am pleased that The FA is committed to improving access to the game at all levels and focusing on player development at an early age.
"I am also pleased with the FA's plan to stamp out abusive behaviour that has no place either on or off the pitch."
Sutcliffe added that football links in with work the Government is doing.
"The FA’s National Game Strategy also underlines areas that Government and football can work together on such as improving people’s health, increasing sports participation and strengthening local communities.
"It is particularly important for The FA to continue to strengthen the women’s game from the grassroots up and I will watch for progress in this area with interest."
Hugh Robertson MP, Shadow Sports and Olympics Minister, echoed Sutcliffe's thoughts.
"'The long term development of football's grassroots could not be more important for either the game itself or, indeed, the country in terms of our London 2012 legacy," he said.
"Reinvigorating sports grassroots is The Conservative Party's key sports policy objective so I could not be more delighted at this fantastic commitment by The Football Association to our national game."
Fellow MP Don Foster, Shadow Lib Dem Secretary for Culture, Media and Sport, believes The FA's grassroots investment can counter the nation's health concerns.
"The FA has set out a promising and ambitious plan for the next four years," he said.
"I'm particularly pleased to see links being established with businesses such as Tesco for training younger children. It's joined-up thinking like this that will help get kids active and keep them active as young people. In a climate of rising obesity, it's great that The FA are capitalising on football's capacity to get people excited about sport and involved in it."
