Brooking blueprint

Trevor Brooking returns to the East End today to launch the English Schools FA Centenary Year and put schoolboy football back on the national agenda.

The Football Association's new Director of Development, a former schoolboy international himself, wants to use the celebrations to reverse the decline in the status of junior football.

The former West Ham and England midfielder believes that schools' football is an essential part of the development of the game in this country.

"Schoolboy football has had a difficult time in the last 20 years," said Brooking, who will oversee the grassroots development of the game as one of his FA responsibilities.

"One of the big problems is the loss of football pitches. This is particularly bad in London. The other problems involve the lack of coaches and the pressure of teaching schedules that allow no time for football."

Brooking and schools' FA chairman Philip Harding were due to launch the initiative at Godwin Junior School in Newham this afternoon.