Is our game doomed?

"I think that younger people give the game up early for the simple reason that they do not like the way we play football today. I can sympathise with this because I don't either.

I think it is almost safe to say that we are the only country in the world that plays our way and I think the game will eventually die out, at the lower levels like the County League level for sure unless we change the way we play.

If you think of English football, from the international side down to the very lowest of park football, I think we are probably the last of the 'kick and rush' football nations left in the world.

During the World Cup, even the minor nations played pass-and-move better than us. When they learn to play it at speed like the majority of the best national teams now do, we are finished unless we also change.

If pass-and-move rings any bells with fans in this country, or from the commentators who were begging us to stop the 60-yarders into the channels and give it to a closer player, let me remind you that the Clifton have been playing this way since 1998. That is why we had people who thought more of their Sunday football than the rubbish they played in on a Saturday.

Why do you think I had such an easy job finding three different Clifton teams in six years and my successor Mark Wood then found another to win the treble?

Young forwards, usually two, spend 90 minutes chasing long balls against at least four defenders so their chances, numerically, are not good unless it is against a team some levels below them. Not much fun there: players move to other clubs, then give up early.

I used to think that East Preston might be the answer but it didn't last.

Now, think about a young midfielder, with skills that could develop into a Mark Croft, a Chris Punter or a Des Guile. How does he feel when all he sees is a long booming kick, way over his head and he is supposed to run and back up his already outnumbered forwards? He will also give in early unless we change.

Kick and rush is the most energy sapping, soul destroying type of football you can ever play in and my forecast, however long it takes, is that players below the paid level will be playing in five-a-side leagues on a Saturday afternoon because it will be, wait for it . . . fun. It will also be because of a referee shortage but don't get me started on that one.

The only players who stay are goalkeepers and defenders and we are inundated with them. Why not? They get paid for playing as though they are at a golf driving range.

I should not really joke about this because it hurts me occasionally to go to matches, now, and my wife tells me I come home quite downhearted from most.

Never mind, I think I will find that Dominic Di Paola's Clifton and Clymping teams will develop into what I want to watch and life at winter weekends will be great again. Then, if Paul Curtis can do it at United and Danny Bloor at Worthing . . .

Who knows, we may start a revolution that goes upwards to our international team."