The book presents an insight into football development and every aspect of it is comprehensively covered with a special focus on grassroots football. Back to the Roots illustrates in detail the player development process, underlining and envisaging key aspects required for the successful and sustainable player development pathway. It highlights the importance of football in schools and training academies for young talent. The author, being associated with the game and its development for many years, presents a road-map for making football an integral part of the school education system. With an emphasis on the role of leadership in football development for bringing in a change or developing the game from every aspect, this book is a must read for everyone involved with the beautiful game – be it budding players, administrators, fans, policy makers, parents, coaches as well as young and old enthusiasts of the game.

This book explores issues related to the abuse of referees and match officials in sport. Drawing on original empirical research in football, rugby union, rugby league and cricket, it provides an insight into the complexities involved in the recruitment, retention and development processes of match officials from across the global sports industry. Using an evidence-based approach, the book examines why abuse occurs, the operational environments in which match officials operate, and underlying issues and trends that cut across sports and therefore can be linked to wider societal trends. It challenges global sport policy and discusses the development of an inclusive, cohesive and facilitative environment for match officials, players, coaches and spectators to ensure the future provision of global sport. Referees, Match Officials and Abuse is an invaluable resource for all students, scholars and national governing bodies of sport with an interest in match officials, sports governance, sport policy, sport management and the sociology of sport.