| About the Show |
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Grass Roots Football LIVE's first outing was in July 2005 at London’s ExCeL (it was known as Grass Roots Football Show in those days!). The show was the brainchild of two Hertfordshire youth team coaches who saw a burning need for the grass roots game to have a single forum from which to learn from the pro’s and source kit and equipment for the new season. More than 2,000 coaches, managers and administrators from Saturday and Sunday football teams came together at the UK’s first event of it’s kind. Star turns over the weekend included Arsenal goalkeeping coach Bob Wilson, The FA’s Sir Trevor Brooking and England World Cup hero Geoff Hurst. Having taken a year out to develop the event further, we returned at the Ricoh Arena, Coventry and opened the event to players as well as those running the teams and clubs. This time, more than 5,400 visitors enjoyed an action packed weekend which included drill sessions from Graham Taylor, Newcastle and then England coach Steve Round, and ex-Chelsea wing wizard Charlie Cooke. The Ricoh was a great venue for the event but such was the demand from visitors and exhibitors, the decision was taken to move to the country’s best known and largest exhibition venue – The NEC, Birmingham. And how the event has grown! This year will see a host of well known names participating in three days of football heaven which includes a Stadium, Coaching Arena, Skills Zone, Entertainment Stage, Exhibition and for young players aged 7-12, the Academy Experience.
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