Parks Football-Cardiff&District-Combination League

I can remember back in the mid eighties that the adult division of the Cardiff and District League had six divisions, with about 20 teams in each, I think the Combination League had similar numbers, yet today, I think that there are only three divisions in the District League with about 12 teams in each, I presume the Combination has seen it's numbers dwindle. The question is, why? Football seems more popular now than ever, wall to wall coverage, The game producing superstars, yet the number of young-ish men playing football on a Saturday has dropped immeasurably.

What are the factors behind this? is it the loss of industry and manufacturing, jobs taken by working class men which created a Community, hence the social side which included sport? Has the roll of a man changed due to different working conditions and time scales, and more women returning to work? Is it a lack of Community, People becoming more transient and not mixing within a Community, the loss of the local pub, where men would meet up and organise games, fixtures etc. It's an interesting subject, i'm sure that plenty on here have played local football over the years, what's your thoughts?

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Originally Posted by Tuerto

I can remember back in the mid eighties that the adult division of the Cardiff and District League had six divisions, with about 20 teams in each, I think the Combination League had similar numbers, yet today, I think that there are only three divisions in the District League with about 12 teams in each, I presume the Combination has seen it's numbers dwindle. The question is, why? Football seems more popular now than ever, wall to wall coverage, The game producing superstars, yet the number of young-ish men playing football on a Saturday has dropped immeasurably.

What are the factors behind this? is it the loss of industry and manufacturing, jobs taken by working class men which created a Community, hence the social side which included sport? Has the roll of a man changed due to different working conditions and time scales, and more women returning to work? Is it a lack of Community, People becoming more transient and not mixing within a Community, the loss of the local pub, where men would meet up and organise games, fixtures etc. It's an interesting subject, i'm sure that plenty on here have played local football over the years, what's your thoughts?

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Whilst in Cardiff back in the 80s I played for Whitchurch Hospital, Tongwynlais, Park Lawn & Cardiff Corries.

Back then the only technology around was a space invaders machine in the Hollybush & 'Walkmans'.

Back then the fast-food outlets were sparse and the opportunities to visit them were few & far between unless you were prepared to wait for a bus into 'town'.

A much larger proportion of lads (than today) would either play football for one of the district sides or go to a local park and while away an hour or two playing footy until it got dark.

A great way of keeping moderately fit & healthy. Obesity was rare.

Cardiff City were in the doldrums as I recall so there was not much interest in following the local side.

The factors affecting participation mirrors societies desire to not exert themselves in the way they used to.

pretty sure the demise of mens local sides in the combination and district leagues was due to the massive increase in costs for pitches around the late 90's / early 2000's . yet on the other hand junior football flourished . the juniors didn't have to pay a single penny for using council pitches not sure now tho . the same happened with baseball sides in the summer months . also the internet with xbox games etc has changed the mindset of young adults .

Juniors and minis don’t pay for pitches, just as well as the parks do little or no maintenance and usually arrange a 3 or four month winter break!

Mini football is booming in Cardiff. The club I coach for has a waiting list at all age levels. We run four teams at U9 and could run six if we could get more coaches.
Obviously as kids get older there are plenty of other distractions, but then that was always the case. I honestly believe that nowadays we are simply generally getting lazier as a society.

Some good answers, So, the options are greater, More distractions etc, although I do think that the roll of a man has changed drastically over the last twenty years or so. We seem to work more now, and it isn't 8-4 anymore, Employees expect 7 day flexibility, we live in more fear of losing our jobs now more than ever, Manufacturing and industry is almost non existent and more and more people are self employed, working long hours including weekends, basically, it's a 24 hour society where kids have to be ferried about three evenings a week and on weekends add to that, the amount of distant fathers who have their kids on weekends and partners working weekends adds to childcare. I don't think we've become lazy as a society, Working practice and family life have changed drastically, adding to less time to socialise and get involved in sport. I can remember the days when blokes would play on a Saturday, finish up and straight to the pub, where they'd stay until closing time, it was the norm, although I couldn't see the attraction. How many men with partners and kids could pull that these days? Although not a bad thing in my opinion.

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Originally Posted by Tuerto

Some good answers, So, the options are greater, More distractions etc, although I do think that the roll of a man has changed drastically over the last twenty years or so. We seem to work more now, and it isn't 8-4 anymore, Employees expect 7 day flexibility, we live in more fear of losing our jobs now more than ever, Manufacturing and industry is almost non existent and more and more people are self employed, working long hours including weekends, basically, it's a 24 hour society where kids have to be ferried about three evenings a week and on weekends add to that, the amount of distant fathers who have their kids on weekends and partners working weekends adds to childcare. I don't think we've become lazy as a society, Working practice and family life have changed drastically, adding to less time to socialise and get involved in sport. I can remember the days when blokes would play on a Saturday, finish up and straight to the pub, where they'd stay until closing time, it was the norm, although I couldn't see the attraction. How many men with partners and kids could pull that these days? Although not a bad thing in my opinion.

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Valid reasoning. Marriage break-ups and all the consequences of childcare must have had an impact on participation in sport.

Mates of mine play in the south Wales amateur league and the team often struggles to get 11 to field.
People go out on a Friday night or would rather do other things (usually drink all day) on a Saturday.

The same won't apply or be the reason for other teams and leagues but if there is no I detest then there is no teams..

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Originally Posted by Barry Shitpeas

Mini football is booming in Cardiff. The club I coach for has a waiting list at all age levels. We run four teams at U9 and could run six if we could get more coaches.
Obviously as kids get older there are plenty of other distractions, but then that was always the case. I honestly believe that nowadays we are simply generally getting lazier as a society.

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Coaches would also be easier to get if you weren't assumed to be a paedo for wanting to coach kids.

Added to the liability for anything that goes wrong, it's a shit sandwich that I don't blame people for not wanting to eat.

Lot of the top Cardiff sides have moved into the pyramid.

The divisions were never more than 16 sides, although I'm sure there were 6 divisions in the District and 4 in the Combination.

There were also 2 Sunday Leaugues with 4-5 divisions of 12/14 sides.

Average ages crept up through the 80s and 90s and less and less youngsters came through.

Have to say although I thoroughly enjoyed Parks football, Gôl and Poweleague etc.. are less stressful and more convenient.

Participation at these is enormous.

From 6-9 they will be full and also most of the day on the weekend.

A dozen courts at each.

More touches, no putting nets up, no 'San Siro' , no stones thrown at you by spectators or intimidated refs , no travelling to hell holes, no ball disappearing down the mountain....No migranes from heading the ball either..