Last updated on .From the section Football

The cost of playing and poor facilities are the main factors behind the sharp decline in people playing amateur football, say grassroots campaigners.

The Football Association is to lose £1.6m of public funding for the amateur game from Sport England after failing to reverse a drop in participants.

Sport England is calling for a change in the FA's grassroots strategy.

Youth coach Kenny Saunders said: "More and more kids will walk away from grassroots football."

Analysis Danny Mills Former England defender and member of Football Association commission on improving the national team. "There is such diversity in the sports available to kids that there has been a slight decline in football participation over the past 10-15 years. But there are still millions playing football. "The headlines will be 'they are taking £1.6m out of the grassroots game', but they are also giving it back. "There are aspects we can improve on and we have to prioritise quality over quantity. "Like the creation of a football hub, where people can go to get advice and learn specialist coaching skills. That may be the way forward as we look to make the system more efficient and beneficial to everybody. "Also, in the grand scheme of things, £1.6m is not a great deal of money. "The average 3G pitch costs £550,000 - and in terms of infrastructure we are still 1,000 3G pitches behind Germany."

Saunders, who runs boys' club Woolton FC external-link in Liverpool, has set up a Save Grassroots Football campaign external-link aiming to convince the Premier League to contribute 7.5% of its television revenue towards grassroots facilities.

He is behind an e-petition, external-link backed by Bolton North East MP David Crausby, which needs 100,000 signatures to be debated in Parliament.

"Over the weekend, I was watching games on other pitches and three teams - under-12s, 13s, 14s - only had nine players on the pitch; not even the full quota and no substitutes," he said.

"This is in Liverpool, which is a hotbed with two Premier League clubs.

"Even before the end of this season in junior grassroots football, hundreds and hundreds of kids and teams will end up walking away, because councils are increasing pitch fees. This is because from central government to councils, budgets are being cut."

Ted Gore, registration secretary of the Hackney & Leyton Football League external-link - which plays its games on the iconic Hackney Marshes, also believes cost is a big issue.

"We have already lost six or seven teams this season," he said. "The teams can't get the money in from their players to pay for the pitches.

"And some of the teams are getting fed up with the quality of the pitches. We have had a concert on them with lorries driving over them. They are not in a good state."

The league has five divisions and traditionally boasts 55 teams, but Gore said only two teams have already registered for next season.

The cost of hiring a pitch on Hackney Marshes is £50, with a further £35 required to pay the referee. Teams also have to pay a one-fee of £55 to be affiliated to the FA and another £70 for insurance.

Gordon Chant posted his frustration at trying to run an adult's Sunday League team on BBC Radio 5 live's Facebook page. external-link

He wrote: "One, it is expensive. It costs £45 for a pitch, £27 for a referee and £50 for hire of a six-a-side pitch for training. Plus footballs, kit, first aid etc. Secondly, it is a problem getting players. The lack of commitment from younger players is frustrating. Too many won't play if it's too cold, wet, or they are hungover, but that's more of a social problem."

In total, there are 1.84 million people playing football regularly according to Sport England figures - a fall of 100,000 since April last year.

FA general secretary Alex Horne admitted increased costs and poor pitches are behind the decline in participants, and suggested bad weather was also a factor.

He said: "A combination of severe weather, increased pitch hire costs and reduced maintenance spend has made this a very difficult time for clubs seeking to complete their fixtures, and for individual players to value and enjoy regular football.

"This challenge - to ensure a much better provision of quality affordable grassroots facilities - is one we are determined to address."

Who's taking part in what? Apr Oct Change Swimming 2.88m 2.93m Increase Athletics 1.95m 2.02m Increase Cycling 1.86m 2m Increase Football 1.94m 1.84m Decrease Golf 771,000 751,000 Decrease Tennis 423,400 400,600 Decrease Squash 257,100 240,700 Decrease Rugbyunion 166,000 159,600 Decrease Boxing 149,7000 154,800 Increase Cricket 189,000 148,300 Decrease Source: Sport England's Active People Survey

Pete Ackerley, the FA's senior national game development manager, previously told BBC Radio 5 live's Victoria Derbyshire programme that amateur pitches are in an "abhorrent state" and called for more artificial pitches.

The Local Government Association, which represents local authorities, countered: "The football industry is booming and, by contrast, local government is trying to protect vital services like caring for the elderly, fixing the roads and waste collection following a 40% cut in government funding over this Parliament.

"If the FA suggests that Astroturf pitches should be available for local use then councils would gratefully accept assistance from the huge profits made from football each year."

The FA did launch a three-year plan in February 2013 external-link to improve facilities. The strategy aims to improve 3,000 natural pitches across England, build 100 artificial pitches and develop 150 all-weather surfaces.

Changing rooms and toilets on a range of selected sites are also to be refurbished. The plan is part of the £30m grassroots funding the FA is providing over the next three years.

And a caller to 5 live's Your Call suggested there are already programmes in place to increase the number of young players.

Mike Nolan, a coach in Bedford, said: "When you get kids out there, they are motivated. There are a lot of initiatives that will have a long-term benefit but they haven't been in place long enough to increase participation.

"Football is not just about the more able players. Now there are things like the FA Tesco skills programme, external-link the Football Mesh Up external-link and Just Play programmes external-link that are bringing people in.

"These schemes are increasing the player base, but it will take longer to kick in than one year."

Sport England will reinvest the £1.6m it is withholding from the FA in a grassroots 'City of Football' aimed at increasing participation.

A special edition of BBC Late Kick Off on Monday, 31 March will focus on grassroots football.

The programme airs on BBC One every Monday at 23:20BST until 5 May. Watch previous broadcasts on the BBC iPlayer.