All of the leagues in our Oxfordshire boundaries should (will) be meeting on a regular basis with us from now on, not only to share knowledge, but to also support each other with key needs, whether they be playing facilities, England Football Accreditation, encouraging positive behaviour, inclusive referee recruitment and retention, getting more people playing, and ensuring the league’s Welfare Officers and club Welfare Officers are supported.

Florin makes a good point. Winter matches get cancelled due to flooding or frozen pitches, and player safety is paramount. However, February and March can sometimes bring the worst weather, so it’s very unpredictable. Many facilities, especially when run by local councils, want grass pitches free by May in order to allow them to recover for cricket. In addition, some clubs run their end-of-season tournaments in May and June; however, it is something each league can consider.

It is a real worry. Over the next four years of our new strategic plan, we want to see many more flexible places for people of all ages to play, especially in the areas of greatest need. We need the Local Authorities to help us work together with the Football Foundation on finding funding for more all-weather pitches, which can cost about £1M each. We’re also keen to see local leisure centres look at cheaper rates for sports halls and indoor facilities.

These are great points and ones we fully support, Steve. Our next Silent Weekend is on 2/3 March 2024, where everyone is asked to simply applaud rather than shout, to show their appreciation of good football by both sides in every match.

Some clubs already have respect marshals. We’d like to see all leagues and clubs promote greater consistency. Kids need to have fun playing football. Parents need to let the coach be the coach. The players do not need mixed messages, it only distracts and confuses them. It affects their focus and self-confidence and can put them off playing.

We’ve seen parents walking onto pitches during matches to tell their children to be more aggressive. We’ve seen parents – and even coaches – criticising every refereeing decision to other parents and their own players, and we’ve even seen 50-year-old parents physically threaten 15-year-old referees. Football is a passionate game and yet we are all there to encourage and support, not undermine or intimidate.

Consistently treating everyone with dignity and respect will be a key part of our new strategic plan, with better recognition for volunteers, promoting wholly-inclusive and encouraging environments, greater support for match officials, and firmer sanctions for bad behaviour.

We want to grow the game equally in all its forms. Football has the power to change lives, to bring people and communities together, to help everyone be active and healthy and have fun doing so as part of a team.

At Oxfordshire FA, we can only afford to employ eight people who work their socks off trying to look after 20,000 players involved in 1,300 teams and 200 local clubs.

We need more help, such as the way Isinglass Consulting have honoured the memory of local football legend Mickey Lewis through their sponsorship of our Under-15 Youth Cup.

We are open to more sponsors for our County Cup competitions. We’d love to hear from Oxfordshire companies that want to do more to help their local community and make a lasting positive difference to society. We have listened to feedback from our local clubs, and opened up the hosting of our County Cup finals to more venues. In addition, we’re working closely with our local clubs to strengthen player and coach development as we look to find the next generation of England players.