Climate change threatens to disrupt grassroots sport in Cambridgeshire
A report has found extreme weather could lead to less athletes taking part
Climate change is threatening to disrupt grassroots sport across Cambridgeshire, a report has found.
With five storms already this winter, the British Association of Sustainable Sport (Basis) thinks extreme weather like this could lead to less athletes and fans taking part if more games are postponed.
In the Basis report, it's predicted the UK will get warmer and wetter, with more intense downpours during the autumn and winter and more extreme heatwaves in the summer.
Gareth Booth manages Whittlesey Athletic FC's ladies team - he thinks the impact of extreme weather events won't affect the grassroots game too much:
"I don't think extreme weather events affect anyone wanting to play for Whittlesey or in the wider grassroots football arena," he said.
"Regarding participation rates, I think if you want to play grassroots football, you're in it for the love of the game; hot sun, rain, snow, sleet, I think they'd be happy to play in anything."
62,500 grassroots matches cancelled due to weather
Research from the Climate Coalition in 2021 found that around 62,500 amateur football matches were being cancelled or delayed through extreme weather each year.
In a poll commissioned by not-for-profit Round Our Way, 63% of people said they would support a new independent regulator that would consider the impact of climate change on football.
Those who backed the move also felt the Football Association, Premier League and English Football League should enforce climate action in the sport.
"I'm not sure anything can be done at grassroots"
"I'm not sure anything can be done at grassroots (to tackle climate change); I think it's a wider problem that's on the international scale and it needs to come from a much higher place than grassroots football to solve the problem," Booth said.
"I hope the involvement in grassroots sport continues to grow; I think you play it because you love the game so I'd hope whatever the weather, people will continue to enjoy the sport."