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The first of thirty proposed new all-weather football facilities opened in Sheffield last Wednesday, as part of the FA’s ‘Parklife’ scheme.

£200million is being invested to improve grassroots football in England, funded by the FA, Sport England and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

On paper, the large sum, which is to be invested across the country by 2020, is a good idea. England interim-manager Gareth Southgate hailed the project, saying: “We will benefit for decades”. But the reality is rather different. The scheme will have some effect, but is not so profound and revolutionary as it seems.

Clearly, thirty new quality areas to play football is not a bad thing, but the fact that there are only thirty is the first major issue. England as a nation are still miles behind other European countries in terms of providing artificial pitches – in 2014, there were 700 in the country, compared to 4,000 in Germany.

Having pitches that don’t cut up during the winter helps players develop technique – muddy, boggy pitches are most suited to those players with the most strength. Artificial pitches also mean less matches postponed over the winter, so football can be practised all year round.

But the greatest issue is cost. It is fine to say that these facilities are available, but at what price? Norway – hardly one of the superpowers of international football – have provided 3G (artificial) pitches free of charge for people to use for years. In England, it could easily cost more than £30-an-hour. For a group of friends playing football after school, that is simply too much.

If the new facilities are only available to those who can pay, or only attainable for clubs to train on, the benefits of having them are severely limited. Coaches and referees can learn in a high-quality environment, but young players will gain much less, because they are priced out of using the pitches as much as they want to.

Having 3G pitches for use free of charge means more children will play. Hiring out to clubs who use the facilities for training is different – they have the funds required. Not limiting the pitches to clubs makes far more sense in football terms. The more children play, the better the standards will become.

You can guarantee that if high quality facilities were available for people to use, say after school or at the weekend, people would use them. The decline in street football (a free activity to participate in) is because it is no longer safe – having these facilities open for free would counter that, and get more people involved in the sport, keeping fit and having fun.

The Parklife project is a start, granted, but there is still a long way to go before we get children playing football more frequently. If the FA want to make a real difference, providing these facilities for anyone to use at any time would be a good place to start.

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For many years, Leeds United vs Newcastle United was a top fixture in the Premier League, but on Sunday they meet at Elland Road in a mouthwatering Championship clash.

The Whites have been outside of the top flight since 2004, while the Magpies suffered a disappointing relegation just six months ago when Rafa Benitez was unable to save them from the drop.

This term, both clubs are eyeing promotion and they have enjoyed terrific starts to the campaign. Newcastle are sitting top of the table and eight points clear of third-placed Huddersfield Town, while Leeds are in the final play-off spot following a terrific run of form under the leadership of Garry Monk.

A sell-out crowd is expected for the Toon Army’s first visit to Elland Road since 2003. So ahead of the big match, Football FanCast have decided to take a look at five players who have appeared for both clubs over the years.

Gary Speed

The late Welshman was one of the best midfielders to grace the Premier League – and the turf at Elland Road and St James’ Park – and remains a hugely iconic individual for both sets of supporters.

Speed won the First Division title with the Whites before making 285 appearances in all competitions for Newcastle from 1997-2004.

A minute’s applause is planned in the 11th minute on Sunday to honour the memory of the number he wore for both clubs – sure to be an emotional moment.

Jonathan Woodgate

Although he suffered a number of injury problems during his time at St James’ Park, Woodgate was still a brilliant defender for both clubs.

The centre-back began his senior career with Leeds, making 142 appearances in all competitions, before moving on to Newcastle, his most memorable appearance coming in the UEFA Cup against Didier Drogba’s Marseille, and later securing a move to Spanish giants Real Madrid.

It didn’t quite work out for the former England man at the Bernabeu, but Woodgate served both Leeds and Newcastle well.

James Milner

The midfielder became the youngest player to ever appear in the Premier League when he made his debut for Leeds in 2002, at the age of 16 and 309 days, and impressed many clubs with his mature performances.

Milner made more than 50 appearances for the Whites before completing a £3.6million move to Newcastle because of his hometown club’s financial problems, where he scored 11 goals in 136 outings across all competitions over the course of four years on Tyneside – eventually leaving for Aston Villa.

Mark Viduka

Following an impressive spell in Scotland with Celtic, then Leeds United boss David O’Leary decided to take a chance on the Australian striker in 2000 – and it was a punt that paid off.

Viduka scored 59 goals in 130 Premier League appearances for the Yorkshire outfit and also appeared for Middlesbrough before joining Newcastle in 2007, becoming Sam Allardyce’s first signing at St James’ Park.

His spell on Tyneside was less fruitful though, netting just seven goals in 38 outings and failing to prevent the club’s relegation from the Premier League in 2009.

Alan Smith

The Yorkshire-born Smith came through the youth system at Leeds and made his first team debut against Liverpool at the age of 18 in 1998. He went on to score 56 goals in 228 appearances, including seven during the Whites’ 2000/01 Champions League campaign.

A controversial move to Manchester United followed in 2004 upon the Whites’ relegation to the Championship, before a switch to Newcastle for a fee of £6million in 2007.

Despite starting his career as a striker, much of Smith’s time with Newcastle was spent in central midfield.

As reported by The Mirror, three Premier League clubs are interested in taking Jay Rodriguez off Southampton’s hands and giving him a fresh start in the top flight.

What’s the word?

Rodriguez is finding it tough at Southampton this season, making just six Premier League appearances under Claude Puel, with only one of them starts.

According to The Mirror, that’s alerted Swansea, Hull and West Brom, who are all interested in a January move for the former England international.

Wherever he ends up, Rodriguez’s next club will be hoping he can recapture the form that made many think he had the potential to excel in an England shirt.

Where did it all go wrong?

Jay Rodriguez has had a difficult few years since an impressive campaign in 2013/14 made him a fan favourite at St Mary’s.

That year he scored 15 Premier League goals and two in the cups, making him the club’s top scorer. It was form that earned him an England cap, with many hoping he would be on his way to the World Cup in Brazil.

Sadly for Rodriguez and his admirers, he suffered an ACL rupture in his knee in April of 2014 against Manchester City, an injury that laid him off for over a year. It wasn’t until August of 2015 that he made his next appearance, missing an entire season.

He hasn’t quite looked the same since and with the arrival of Puel, first team chances have been even more limited. A move would represent a fresh start for the forward and at 27 years of age, there is still plenty of time for him to make an impact at another Premier League club.

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Arsenal have shown signs of improvement in recent years, winning back-to-back FA Cups, finishing runners-up last term and finally winning their Champions League group this season.With big money arrivals like Mesut Ozil, Alexis Sanchez and Granit Xhaka arriving in North London, the Gunners have entered a new era over the course of the past three years but there is one problem that Arsene Wenger’s side are struggling to overcome.

In their last 25 games against other sides in the Premier League’s ‘big six’, Arsenal have secured just 27 points from those matches- the worst record out of any of their rivals, which shows exactly where the Gunners have come undone in recent years.

Crucially Chelsea, who currently top the table, have a record of ten points better than the Gunners, whilst Manchester United boast the best points tally despite enduring difficulties in the post Sir Alex Ferguson era.

Having lost to Liverpool and Manchester City this season already, Arsenal haven’t really shown improvements to suggest this record will be improved- especially as their 3-0 win over Chelsea came before the Blues settled into life under Antonio Conte.

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Andy Carroll has his fair share of critics but the former Newcastle United and Liverpool man has proved his worth to West Ham recently, scoring important goals recently to put the club back in the top-half of the Premier League.Netting in last weekend’s victory over Crystal Palace, Carroll found the net again yesterday in the win against Middlesbrough to return to form and boast the sort of consistency that has been lacking for the past year or so.

Scoring in back-to-back Premier League matches for the first-time since April 2016, the 28-year-old now boasts five goals in just ten league appearances, only five of which have been starts, and is showing the sort of form to suggest he can lead the Hammers to better form in the remaining months of the season.

With star-man Dimitri Payet on the way out, West Ham need a new hero and Carroll can certainly be that man if he continues at this rate.

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Mesut Ozil has been a regular name in the transfer gossip columns over the last few months, as uncertainty continues to surround his Arsenal future.

The German World Cup winner has been in negotiations with the Gunners for a lengthy time regarding fresh terms.

Like his teammate Alexis Sanchez, Ozil has 18 months left on his current deal, and even though Olivier Giroud, Laurent Koscielny and Francis Coquelin have signed on the dotted line, the 28-year-old is yet to.

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In a recent interview with Kicker Ozil, who has been named Germany’s Player of the Year for the fifth time in six years, suggested that he would be more inclined to sign a new deal if manager Arsene Wenger extended his stay at the Emirates.

The Frenchman’s current deal expires at the end of the season, and there is no indication as to whether he will be at the helm for the 2017-18 campaign.

As for Ozil, he has told the German football federation’s website that he is content with life in England, which could suggest that he has no plans to leave.

“I’ve simply arrived in the Premier League since last season. I’ve remained injury free for the most part and I feel very comfortable in London now as well.”

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Leicester’s Claudio Ranieri has long been known as ‘The Tinkerman’, but it was Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho who made the change that altered the game as the two sides met on Sunday, shifting Henrikh Mkhitaryan into the No.10 role, which yielded a quick-fire two goals before half-time and effectively won the match for the Red Devils.

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Speaking (via The Guardian) after the full-time whistle, the Portuguese boss acknowledged the alteration made an impact:

“Yes, we improved [after the tactical change] but then, it’s his goal that changes the story of the game.”

‘Mou’ stopped short of lavishing too much praise on his Armenian playmaker, yet the stats from his performance against the Foxes make it hard not to laud him…

The ex-Dortmund ace, arguably Man of the Match, was heavily involved in much of Man United’s play with 76 touches of the ball and 60 passes, but it’s his five key passes (one of which was an assist) that really stood out. On top of that, he netted a goal, showing that he can contribute when Mourinho’s men need him the most – prior to his central move the game was relatively close.

Making Mkhitaryan the No.10 on a regular basis may mean Paul Pogba needs to drop deeper, but it’s a nice headache for the Man United boss to have.

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Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been sensational since moving to the Premier League last summer and has excelled in his debut season with Manchester United, standing as a huge part of why the Red Devils are enjoying a 15-game unbeaten run.

Whilst Jose Mourinho’s side have not yet managed to climb above sixth position in the table, United boast the current longest-running unbeaten record in Europe’s top-five leagues this season and find themselves just four points behind second-placed Manchester City.

With their meteoric rise following a slow start to the season, United look set to achieve a top-four finish and Zlatan Ibrahimovic has certainly been instrumental to their success- so it’s crucial they extend his deal at Old Trafford.

With an incredible 15 goals in 24 appearances this season, only Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez and Everton’s Romelu Lukaku have outscored the 35-year-old Swedish international and Ibrahimovic’s contribution isn’t just goals.

A thorn in the side of defenders, Ibrahimovic has secured three assists this season and averages 4.3 shots per game, whilst also creating two chances per game on average and regularly winning aerial battles.

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The rivalry between Newcastle and Sunderland is, undoubtedly, one of the most hotly contested in English history. Stretching back to the 1600s, the cities of Newcastle and Sunderland have always endured a heated rivalry, with contests stretching far beyond the confines of a football pitch.

The two cities aligned with different sides for the first time during the English Civil War, and whilst Sunderland won on that occasion, their battles on the pitch have been equally as competitive since their first meeting in 1883.

Over the years the two sides have been in different divisions and involved at different positions in the English Football League, though meetings between the clubs are always well fought and competitive.

In recent years, with both sides struggling near the bottom of the table, fixtures have been particularly interesting – with games between the pair often having a defining impact in the context of their respective seasons. Sunderland have had the upper hand in recent fixtures, but that hasn’t always been the case.

The North East is renowned for its passionate supporters, with both Sunderland and Newcastle regularly seeing around 50,000 supporters packed into their respective stadiums cheering on their teams on any given Saturday.

Visit Britain are looking to find the biggest Super Football Fan in the world, and to be honest, there will be a fair few to choose from in this particular part of England.

Whilst you contemplate whether you feel you have what it takes to be considered, we have showcased five of the best Tyne-Wear derbies in recent memory…

Newcastle 3-1 Sunderland, January 1985

This game arguably sums up the nature of ties between the two sides better than any other.

Sunderland, who were struggling to keep up with Newcastle’s rampant forward Peter Beardsley, ended the game with just 9 players – having had two players sent off.

Beardsley bagged a hat-trick to seal the points for the Magpies, with Sunderland ending the season in the relegation zone.

This is a game that is still fondly remembered whenever the sides meet at St James’ Park.

Sunderland 1-4 Newcastle, April 2006

A poor first half display from Newcastle saw the Magpies go in 1-0 down, but an impressive turnaround in the second-half brought the three points back to the other side of town.

Goals from Michael Chopra, Alan Shearer, Albert Luque and Charles N’Zogbia sealed the points for Glenn Roeder’s side.

The game was a particularly significant one for Newcastle, given that it was the final time that Alan Shearer was seen on the pitch for the Magpies. A fitting end to a magnificent career, it was classic Shearer to finish his career how he had spent much of it – by putting the ball into the back of the net.

Sunderland 2-1, October 2008

Whilst the 2006 clash was significant for the Magpies, the clash between the pair in 2008 at the Stadium of Light proved to be a turning point for the Black Cats.

Goals from Kieran Richardson and Djibril Cisse would seal a famous win for Roy Keane’s side, with the win coming after 8 years of failure in the contest. Perhaps more significantly, it was also the first home win for the Black Cats in 28 years, signalling how important the game was in the context of the rivalry.

The game also played a part in Newcastle’s relegation at the end of the season, which was certainly an extra bonus for Sunderland.

Newcastle 5 – 1 Sunderland, October 2010

Possibly the most one-sided victory in the game in recent memory.

Newcastle were struggling under Chris Hughton in the lead up to the game, but his side were able to put aside those jitters and win against their old rivals in emphatic fashion.

The game was put beyond doubt even before the end of the first-half, with two more goals coming after the break to add a bit of extra shine to the Magpies’ finesse.

The game was a bit of an anomaly for the Magpies, with the side struggling in the Premier League, with Hughton’s tenure culminating just a few months later.

Newcastle 0 – 3 Sunderland, April 2013

The clash between the sides in April 2013 was, arguably, the most significant in recent memory.

Both sides were not in the best run of form leading into the game, with relegation a very real possibility – with Sunderland, in particular, struggling.

Paolo Di Canto was the man charged with keeping Sunderland in the Premier League, and he duly came through with a stunning display of managerial prowess in what was his second game in charge of the Black Cats.

What followed was a masterclass from the Italian, with his passion and determination rubbing off on a group of players that had seriously struggled in the lead to the clash. A dominant 3-0 victory was the end result, with the game proving vital as the Black Cats escaped relegation.

So think you have what it takes to be their Super Fan? Click on the link below to find the details.

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Jose Mourinho versus Antonio Conte is nearing its second instalment. After Chelsea drubbed Manchester United in their first meeting earlier this season, the Red Devils have gone on a run of two defeats in 31 matches as they have rebuilt their season from an early slumber.

With Zlatan Ibrahimovic suspended and having played in the depths of Russia on Thursday night, Manchester United are in a far worse situation than Chelsea coming into this game. Although Mourinho has made it clear he will play a strong team, rotation is surely guaranteed after such a Europa League adventure on a woeful pitch.

Stamford Bridge will be rocking for a Monday night kick-off with a spot in a Wembley semi-final at stake. Some of the country’s best footballers will be going head-to-head with two equally excitable managers in the dugouts, its set to be a classic.

Stamford Bridge will be rocking for a Monday night kick-off with a spot in a Wembley semi-final at stake. Some of the country’s best footballers will be going head-to-head with two equally excitable managers in the dugouts, its set to be a classic.

The outcome of the match, however, will be decided by these three duels…

Rashford v Cahill

Chelsea are expected to be at full strength for the visit of Manchester United, meaning that Gary Cahill is the player Marcus Rashford should target. Rashford will surely start in the absence of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and the boy wonder from last season must be shrewd against an organised Chelsea defence.

His fearlessness with the ball at his feet and pace make him the ideal player to trouble Cahill. After a tough campaign last season, Cahill has been back to his best for Chelsea this season but he remains vulnerable to direct runners in the channels.

N’Golo Kante v Ander Herrera

Although they may not clash too often directly in midfield, the competition between Herrera and Kante will be fierce. Both are key to breaking up play for their side and quickly releasing possession to their more gifted team-mates.

Kante will harass whoever is playing in Manchester United’s attacking midfield position, while Herrera will be tasked with picking up Eden Hazard or Pedro when they drop into the spaces between the lines.

Two tenacious midfielders could define how this game flows. Should Kante continue at his best levels, any play for Manchester United will quickly be broken up. Herrera, on the other hand, must be secure to allow Paul Pogba the freedom to drive forwards.

Eden Hazard v Antonio Valencia

The thought that if you can stop Hazard you stop Chelsea is outdated, but keeping the magnificent Belgian quiet will certainly aid Manchester United’s cause.

Their trouble is that they rely on Antonio Valencia to provide the width in attack down the right flank, which could leave them vulnerable to Hazard running at their central defenders.

Valencia’s attacking prowess, though, could be a real threat to Chelsea and may force Hazard to do a rare bit of defensive work (something he has been relieved of since the switch to 3-4-3). If Valencia can isolate Alonso down that flank, Manchester United could expose a weakness that Manchester City targeted earlier this season.