WITH the football season nearing its conclusion (apart, of course from the European Championships) thoughts are already turning towards the big sporting occasion of the summer, the 2012 London Olympics. And one of England's top ex-players has put the cat among the pigeons by suggesting that Olympic football should be played by amateur footballers, not professionals.

Football Diary

by Patrick O'Connor

IT'S not very often that I praise the Football Association but they definitely deserve a pat on the back for their bid to halt the decline of men playing the 11 a side game.

A £200m investment scheme in grass roots football includes improving access and quality of pitches.