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Football GMB furious with Tories for selling off school playing fields

GMB has questioned where football’s next superstars will come from after revealing the government has sold off over 200 playing fields since 2010.

As England enjoy an unprecedented level of success in both the senior men and women’s game, at grassroots and school level, the situation is dire.

GMB revealed yesterday that since May 2010, a total of 215 school playing fields have been flogged across the country.

GMB organiser Francis Duku hit back at the Tories, calling the cuts a “disgrace” and pointing out that they are doing the same thing they condemned the Labour government of 2009 for doing.

“The government has cut education funding to such an extent schools are being forced to flog their playing fields to make ends meet,” Mr Duku told the Star.

"It's pretty hypocritical for Conservative ministers to push through the sell-offs they once condemned.

“At a time when the nation is celebrating the success of both the men’s and women’s national teams it’s a disgrace less and less school children will have anywhere to play.

“This short-sighted sell off the family silver is going to have serious health implications for generations to come.

“We need support for the semi-professional game and proper funding for the grassroots football which will produce the next generation of England stars."

The news comes at a time when obesity levels among children are a huge concern among health experts.

According to NHS figures, 28 per cent of two-to-15 year olds were overweight or obese.

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