!

[Beenherebefore]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/37209664

[gmarkj]

To some extent, yes.
But also means that they are a little more "cultured" and less kick and chase... (here's looking at you, Jordan Henderson!)

[Cleoriff]

Combine all of the above with the fact 'home grown' players and teams are having great difficulty at local level.

Junior football is suffering badly. There are new teams folding every week. The majority of teams are finding it very, very hard to run. Pitch fees are becoming astronomical. It's embarrassing that this country can't afford to fund players at grass root level...

[gmarkj]

There were supposed to be terms as part of the TV deal(s) that a proportion of the money gets funneled down to lower leagues.
How that works or how much they get I am not sure.
I did like the tweet from one club that the amount of money spent in this transfer market would cover the running cost of the club for 1,000 years!!

[Cleoriff]

It didn't get channelled down when I was supporting out local team for 10 years (as far as I am aware). I know @MI5 coaches at junior level now ...so not sure if his club sees any funding?

[jonsie]

This is why more TV money needs to go into grassroots football so let's not say football in this country isn't solely dependent on the likes of sky and bt. All the revenue goes to the Premier league and not enough to the lower Levels. My grandkids play for their schools and two weekend teams, one of which my son manages. Its heartbreaking having to ask for subscriptions from parents when you see the likes of Pogba and Rooney to name but two, take home 300k a week.

[Cleoriff]

The thing is Ben's subscriptions increased constantly. Our coach was always embarrassed to tell us this. We did fundraising events to allow us to play on one of the best pitches in the area....but there is so much talent in this country with no chance of developing further if we don't channel money to allow the talent to flourish. 

[MI5]

Not a single penny.
Subs or raise our own funds!

[jonsie]

Exactly that and me and my son have had to cut the grass and Mark out the pitches more than once.  We have to supply the netting and pay the voluntary refs. The league provides nothing only trophies from club fees. 

[Cleoriff]

Ray and I bought the trophies for our club. We also sponsored them for a year for the kit...

[MI5]

What name did you have put on the shirts