ENGLISH football has slipped behind its European rivals and the FA are now playing catch-up.

Gone are the days of the nation being at the forefront of youth development – the likes of Spain, Portgual and Germany have taken that crown.

England Under-21s’ opening European Championship game highlighted that as the young Spanish team dominated proceedings only for Stuart Pearce’s men to salvage a last-gasp draw.

But the people who matter at the FA have recognised the fact that there is a desperate need for change.

As a result, a radical overhaul of grassroots football is currently under way.

In recent weeks the FA’s Director of Football Development, Sir Trevor Brooking, Head of Elite Development, Gareth Southgate, and National Development Manager, Nick Levett, have been scouring the country for feedback on the planned changes.

Their visit took them to Walsall’s Banks’s Stadium where around 100 Midlands-based coaches quizzed the figureheads on the future.

“We are aiming to make the game more enjoyable for kids, and we want to focus on the technique side of things,” said Southgate.

“People are rightly raising the question now: Why aren’t we technically playing the same way as the Spanish, Portuguese or Italians?