Joey Barton's latest Twitter campaign

[Yellow Wal 314]

For all his wrongdoings he has successfully used his ''fame'' to promote epetitions that would, perhaps, otherwise go unnoticed.

His latest one is to get more support for grassroots football from the richest in the game.

Who knows, perhaps we would have a few more ''homegrown'' players if the grassroots investment was there locally.

The link is below, if you feel you can support this then please sign up.

http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/46134

[Tetteys Jig 830]

This is a great regulation! I hope it happens. It''d boost every community if there were decent football facilities around and with the money the premiership makes, surely it should be responsible for helping the rest of the industry that has in effect supplied it so well for many years without seeing much help reciprocated.

Imagine every town having state of the art football facilities for youngsters from all walks of life. With the money the premiership brings in, there''s no reason for this not to happen.

[Yobocop 1,096]

There are decent football facilities all over the country but they''re not being utilised correctly

The money would be better spent in funding community projects and updating facilities as and where necessary

[Yellow Wal 314]

Supporting grassroots football is not solely about facilities, although many town''s facilities are far below acceptable standards.

It is notable that the of the squad numbers announced yesterday not one of the named players is homegrown. We have always had at least a few good local players in the past.

Perhaps if grassroots football in and around Norwich and the county was better, with better qualified coaches, people who know what they are talking about not people who think they know what they are talking about, then a few more local players would be able to make the grade.

[Tetteys Jig 830]

I''d disagree there are enough facilities. There are companies like ''Goals'' that have great pitches etc, but at like 6 quid each a game, it''s hardly affordable! If they were given subsidies and told to halve their prices and vouchers etc were given to schools to come down and play there, it''d be much better.

[Syteanric 1]

the facilities are there, but arent utilised in the right way.

The Premier league really dont care, football development doesnt lay with them, it lays at the hands of the FA who stil think its 1982.....

We need to encourage more and better quality coaching from under 8''s right up to adult saturday and sunday league teams in order to porgress football in this country.

Barton, fair play to him, is trying to make an effort to change it but he is lobbying the wrong people.

Professional clubs also need to be accountable, including our own Norwich. any decent youngster playing for a local lads team on a saturday or Sunday afternoon will just be taken away with no benefit to the club.

Supposing if Norwich took a young lad from a team that trains and plays at Eaton park, say a 12/13 year old. could there be a provision that the club benefits to the tune of £100? to be used to develop more coaches (who are volunteers) and secure futures.

Working in Youth football, and also coaching a women''s side I can see where the money needs to be going and where the game is currently... changes wont be mae until the "old pals" at the FA wake up a little bit.