I personally think local football is actually thriving and there more kids playing football than there has been for years. I coach Ely Rangers under 7 and last Saturday we had over 30 kids turn up. Some of our older age groups actually have waiting lists to join and this is a Common theme replicated throughout Cardiff. There are so many opportunities for kids these days it is quite amazing. In Cardiff we have fantastic facilities for grass roots football which are available to everyone. Every Saturday we train in the new house of sport bubble in Leckwith and it really is fantastic. We have kids coming as young as 4 years old and we can play in any weather as the 3g pitch is under cover. When I was a kid (many moons ago) I couldn’t play football until I was 8 or 9 years old. We had to play on full size pitches and games were always called off as the pitches were bogging. Nowadays as much of the football is played on 3g hardly any games are called off.
I agree that academies and ADC’s take in a lot of players but most parents these days are realistic enough to know the chances of their boy or girl becoming pro is miniscule. The way I see it is that my little lad is getting good coaching and he’s enjoying it. The reason I asked about the two academies in the first place is because at the moment he is attending both Cardiff and Swansea and at some point I’ll need to make a choice between the two because I cant keep them both up. Since I started the thread both clubs have asked him to stay on and for the short term I’m happy to attend both but eventually something's got to give. As this is kids football I’m not really interested in the whole Cardiff Swansea thing, he’s 5 years old and just loves football.