Sam Allardyce: Margret Thatcher killed football

[LDN Blue 7,903]

West Ham United manager Sam Allardyce has accused former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher of "killing football".

Allardyce has hit out at policies implemented by Thatcher's Conservative governments during the 1980s, expressing his belief that the decisions have created an unproductive environment for youth to exercise whilst developing their skills.

He told the Sun:

"Since Margaret Thatcher stopped teachers being paid extra money for coaching sports after school, all sporting activities have diminished on a competitive basis.

Kids are now more obese and unfit than ever. All the prime young athletes we were ready to develop just aren't there, so we get a lesser quality of player.

It has not just undermined our game, it has undermined many sports in this country and created an unhealthy child. Thatcher killed football, there is no doubt about it."

It is estimated by the Football Association that it takes 10,000 hours of training and education from the age of about seven or eight to be good enough to play professional football - accepting a child has the talent to begin with.

Of this theory, Allardyce added:

"Even a club like Manchester United can only provide 4,000 hours at the moment. It's hard to do more because parents have to drive their kids there four nights a week as well as on a Sunday. Until we wake up and realise how important school sport is to our kids we will never repair the damage."

England have infamously failed to replicate their only major international glory of lifting the World Cup back in 1966.

Source: The Sun (via ESPN)

Published: 11^th July

Edited July 11, 2011 by LDN Blue

[Blue In Green 86]

Thatcher killed a lot of things, didn't she?

[strong centreback 157]

The government are considering spending £3million on a state funeral for Margaret Thatcher when she dies, For £3million they could buy everyone in Scotland a shovel, and we'll dig a hole deep enough to deliver her to Satan ourselves. - Frankie Boyle

Plans have begun for Margaret Thatcher's state funeral, It'll be the first time ever the 21 gun salute is fired into the coffin.