Headed by world child protection expert Professor Celia Brackenridge, the five year project will analyse the attitudes and actions of people working with children in football, from the very top to the very bottom.

"By interviewing thousands of people in the game - from the Premier League to junior girls' football, from national team coaches to disabled players we will find out the true state of the game," explained Professor Brackenridge.

"We expect to uncover some pretty rough stuff. I don't expect to find a lot of sexual abuse, but I think we will discover things like bullying, ridiculing, swearing, drinking and smoking, bad practice and homophobia throughout the game."

The research will continue, indeed be extended, over the next five years to give The F.A.'s Child Protection Team vital feedback on the effectiveness of the various elements of their work.

"If I give out a million cards with the Helpline number on to kids, I need to know if it has worked," explained Tony Pickerin, The F.A.'s Head of Education and Child Protection. "If the children have registered that there is a Helpline, if it has led to many of them calling it, then I'm going to want to put another three million out. This research is crucial."

And Professor Brackenridge added, "The F.A. should be applauded for taking this initiative, we can only improve things if we know for sure what and where improvement is required. There is nothing like this going on anywhere else in the world.'"

Child protection and best practice - A guide is available for £7.50 from Goal resources
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The F.A.'s Child Protection Helpline is 0808 800 5000