With a European Super League still being discussed behind closed doors and FIFA looking to sell the World Cup to the highest bidder, grassroots football has never been more important. Yet while the women's game has grown across nearly all formats, with tens of thousands of women taking up the sport in the last ten years, British men appear to be falling out of love with the 11-a-side game.
The number of men playing 11-a-side football in England has fallen by 163,000 in the space of a decade, according to a Sport England study. That is the equivalent of 14,000 football teams disappearing from the grass-roots game.
The Football Association's director of football development, James Kendall, said: "We're seeing less adult male 11-a-side affiliated football being played, with our hypothesis that many continue to play but enjoy the flexibility of smaller casual formats."
Cost and convenience push players away
Rising costs are also a factor, with prices pushing young amateur players towards other sports. On top of match fees, fines and other expenses, players at Hackney Marshes – once graced by John Terry and Ian Wright – now have to pay £5.70 an hour for parking that was previously free, setting drivers back an estimated £510 a season.
For Will Hamilton, 39, who has played on the Marshes with AFC Islington for over a decade and managed the side for three seasons, the falling numbers may be terminal. His side is considering dropping out of the league for good if things do not improve in the coming months. The self-described chairman, manager, medic and captain, who works in a 'classic office job' when he is not on the touchline, points to an aging side and rising prices as problems, but says the growing popularity of casual formats like 5-a-side is making his job harder.
More options, less commitment
"A lot of people don't like playing 11-a-side. You can get your football fix in half an hour. We've definitely lost a lot of people to the more casual games." he explained.
"I don't think anybody comes out and says they just can't be bothered, or that they'd rather lie in bed or go on holiday. But people have got a lot more options now. Back in the day, what else would you do on a weekend? Go to the pub. Football was more appealing."
While he also enjoys the small-sided formats, Will believes players are missing out on something by turning their back on Sunday league.
"The difference with a league is that you're part of a team over an entire season. You build stories, rivalries and memories that you just don't get from turning up for a casual kickabout."
"It's all about those moments on the pitch. Everything else is just getting to the point where you're all there together playing a game. In modern life there aren't many places where you get that really intense teamwork and camaraderie."
Camaraderie and mental health
For Will, that sense of camaraderie is more than just fun. The connections formed while playing can be transformative for people's mental health.
"I think men struggle with friendships. Blokes tend to need something to hang them on. They need an excuse to meet up. Football gives you that excuse." he said.
Finn Hildesley, 21, who plays for AFC Islington's rivals AFC Brasenose, moved from relaxed formats like 5 and 7-aside at the start of last season, bucking the trend. He initially found the physicality of Sunday league difficult, especially with opponents much bigger and older. But after a few months, he fell in love with the uniqueness of 11-a-side.
Finn, who was recruited while pouring pints at his local pub, said: "Sometimes the guys we play are really aggressive, making the games seem personal. When this isn't the case, it allows younger players to enjoy the games more and focus on winning and getting better at the game we all love."
While winning games can "make the next seven days sweeter", Finn says it's the relationships and not the results that keep bringing him back: "It's the football culture: playing with my friends and going to the pub for a pint afterwards."
