24 May 2005
Power of Football Conference

Watch the highlights from The Power of Football conference at Tottenham Hotspur FC.


Brian Barwick has highlighted the "power of football" at a special conference to celebrate the role of the sport within all communities.

The FA's Chief Executive was just one of a number of key speakers at the event at Tottenham Hotspur FC which showcased the development of the game in meeting the social agenda.

And Barwick is well aware of the impact that football can have on children and adults in a number of positive ways.

"I've learnt a lot since coming into this job and over the next four years we aim to attract 500,000 new players and 120,000 new coaches to the game," he explained.

"We will be targeting all levels; regional, national and local. Football is our national game, our national passion.

"We currently have more players and fans involved now than at any other time in history. Around 12 million people currently play football at some level, and we are targeting more young people to get involved.

"This role I have been given is a fantastic opportunity for me as I am passionate about football and you could say it is something I've been preparing for all my life."

Other speakers at the conference included:
  • Richard Scudamore, Chief Executive, The FA Premier League
  • Gordon Taylor, Chief Executive, The PFA
  • Peter Lee, Chief Executive, The Football Foundation
  • David Sheepshanks, Chairman, Ipswich Town FC
  • John Read, Chief Executive, The English Schools’ Football Association
  • Sir Trevor Brooking, Director of Football Development, The FA

And they were all in agreement that football can play a major part in helping address social issues such as health, drug abuse and anti-social behaviour, as well as help children develop their education.

Brooking explained: "There has been a lot in the news recently about hoodies and ASBOs. But I think football can play a large role in helping solve some of those problems.

"If we can get kids involved and keep them interested then they may not get into trouble elsewhere."

And Scudamore added: "I would urge anyone that has access to facilities to make them as accessible as possible.

"If you are involved in a football club where the chairman or secretary has the key and only opens it up on a Sunday when there is a game, or midweek for training, then try to make contact with people in the local community to see if that facility could be used for other things."

The conference was also used by Caroline Flint, the Public Health Minister, to launch the Football and Health Guide.

Through this new initiative it is hoped that football can also help children and adults take up more physical activity and improve the nation's health.

"The link between football and healthiness is very obvious," Flint explained.

"A recent report showed that four in ten males and less than three out of ten women are sufficiently active to gain any health benefit.

"But if we can get them playing any sport then it will help and children can also look up to professional players in terms of a healthy lifestyle and good diet."

Click on the links above to watch the video from the conference