Back to my roots - Ian Rush

Ian Rush is one of the true footballing greats - a goalscoring legend for Liverpool and Wales throughout the 1980s and early 90s. But, as with all great players, his football journey had to start somewhere. So, when Club Website caught up with Rush recently, we took him back to his roots to find out about his experience of grassroots football as a young man in north Wales.

Now the Elite Performance Director for the Welsh Football Trust, Rush is in an ideal position to compare the facilities, opportunities and support offered to young footballers in Wales today with those 30 years ago.  We discuss his thoughts on this issue and his hopes for the future of Welsh football.

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Grassroots football clubs missing out on Government aid

Is your football club missing out on thousands of pounds of financial aid from the Government? According to Club Charity, a company set up to address the issue, many grassroots football clubs can register as Community Amateur Sports Clubs (CASCs) without making any changes to the way they operate.

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FC Business Live commits to the grassroots game

FC Business Live will host another Coaching and Player Development Seminar in 2009 and this time the grassroots game will have a greater part to play! There will be 25 delegate places available for what is the best seminar of its kind in the UK. If you’re involved in coaching or player development then read on.

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£5 off new Lucozade football packs - use code PREMCW

Lucozade Sport have just launched a selection of team and individual football training packs which you can get £5 off using your exclusive club website gift voucher code PREMCW at lucozadeshop.com. Terms and conditions apply.

Based on the requirements of Barclays Premier League players the personal match day football pack contains a complete range of nutrition products designed to give you the edge over your opposition, including your personal Lucozade sports bottle. Buy your match day pack online at lucozadeshop.com for just £16.74 when you type PREMCW into the box at the checkout.

Buy direct at lucozadeshop.com now to get £5 off

Let's FIFA 09!

Calling all gamers! To celebrate the launch of FIFA 09, Club Website is giving away 10 copies of the latest in the successful FIFA series from EA Sports.

The new game, which hits the shops today, contains all the usual licences meaning you can play as all your favourite clubs and players, but it's also packed with plenty of new features for the discerning gamer to get their teeth into. The latest updates include new animation technology and player momentum physics, plus brand new 10 v 10 online team play!

To get your hands on this fantastic prize, visit our competitions page and answer a simple question to get your name in the hat. It couldn’t be easier!

Enter here

Latest competition winner

Congratulations to Colin Main, coach of Monkton Mavericks Under 10s in Tyne & Wear, winner of an Umbro training pack in our latest competition.

The Mavericks, who were promoted to the Chase Homes U10 Premier League last season, have now got all the kit they need for a proper training session. On hearing the news, Colin said: "That's champion! Since going up we've lost our first two fixtures this season, so this should give the lads a real boost!"

Colin's name was picked out the hat having told us that shuttle runs are the exercise involving short sprints used in training sessions... yes, it's that easy to be a winner with Club Website!

Thanks to all those of you who entered and better luck next time. Keep checking back for more top competitions from the home of grassroots football!

Club Website monthly round-up

Since The Club House hit your inbox in September, there's been plenty happening at the home of grassroots football including the latest news from the grassroots game. Click on the links below to read more on:

- Kick it Out’s 2008 Weeks of Action, plus how your club can get involved
- A “dream come true” Wembley appearance at Soccer Aid 2008 for two lucky Club Website competition winners
- The draw for the 2008/09 SYFA Challenge Cup
- How to nominate your club's Unsung Hero for the BBC's 2008 award
- Upcoming training courses from the Scottish Youth FA

You've been voting in your thousands on our opinion polls, where we’ve found out that a massive 80% of you feel that the professional game is out of touch with football at grassroots level.  You've also told us that dodgy linesmen represent the most common form of gamesmanship in grassroots football (38% of you said so) and that the Respect campaign has yet to be employed in the majority of your grassroots matches (61%).

With the competition entries flying in (see our latest winner, above) and the "Your Shout" section proving ever-popular, there's something for everyone at Club Website, so make sure you keep up to date - click here to visit the home of grassroots football!