THE FA ANNUAL REVIEW 2004-05 THE FA ANNUAL REVIEW 2004-05 CONTENTS CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE 3 CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S MESSAGE 4-5 SVEN ON ENGLAND 6-7 FOOTBALL DEVELOPMENT 8-11 ENGLAND’S TEAMS 12-13 WOMEN’S EURO 2005 14-15 THE FA CUP 2004-05 16-17 COMMERCIAL 18-21 OPERATIONS 22-23 WEMBLEY 24-27 MEDICINE AND EXERCISE SCIENCE 28-29 COMMUNICATIONS 30-31 PUBLIC AFFAIRS 32-33 INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS 34-35 GOVERNANCE 36-41 FINANCE 42-25 INTERNATIONAL RESULTS 46-47 Information contained in this Annual Review is correct as at 31 March 2005 CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE LOOKING FORWARD The last 12 months have been a challenging time for The FA, but we can look forward with confidence and Much has optimism. I am delighted that we have Brian Barwick in place as Chief Executive. Brian has made a swift and extremely been achieved, positive impact and has brought both a wealth of experience and a fresh perspective to the organisation. but we must On the pitch, the England team are well on course to qualify automatically for next year’s World Cup in Germany, constantly topping their group with five wins and a draw. I am delighted that the four-week window ahead of the World Cup strive to serve has now been confirmed, as it would allow Sven-Göran Eriksson and his players the chance to prepare properly for the tournament. the game Last summer saw how the fortunes of the national team can grip the whole country. Although EURO 2004 better ultimately ended in penalty heartache, there were some unforgettable moments on the pitch as well as off it. The huge number of England fans made an enormous contribution to the passion and atmosphere of the tournament, and rewarded The FA’s close work with supporters groups, the UK Government and police forces in the lead-up to Portugal. In domestic football, The FA Cup’s unique magic is as strong as ever after a gripping competition this season, reflected in high attendances and TV audiences, and with 661 entrants, a record number of teams taking part. The Cup’s heritage and tradition have seen it retain its special place in our football culture. The new Wembley Stadium is rising quickly from the ground, giving us a foretaste of the magnificent arena it will become. It will be a fitting successor to the world’s best-loved stadium, and an unforgettable experience for players and fans alike. Away from the spotlight, The FA continues to expand the range of its activities in developing the game at all levels and making it accessible and enjoyable for everyone. English football can feel proud that it is leading the way on issues such as disability football, anti-racism and child protection. More and more children and women are taking up the game, and our hosting of the 2005 UEFA European Women’s Championship will only serve to further interest in the women’s game. Much has been achieved, but we must constantly strive to serve the game better, and Lord Burns’s structural review provides an opportunity for the organisation to assess the effectiveness of its decision-making processes, for the benefit of all of English football. I hope that the following pages provide an insight into the breadth and depth of The FA’s work, and the commitment and dedication of the people who make it possible. Geoff Thompson THE FA ANNUAL REVIEW 2004-05 3 CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S MESSAGE MEETING THE CHALLENGE It’s a huge responsibility to be Chief Executive The Government has designated 2005 as ‘the of the football thrilled the young crowd of 6,500 And what about The FA Cup itself? This season of The FA, but it’s also a great honour and an year of the volunteer’. Well, football has 430,000 and will have inspired many of the girls watching has reaffirmed that it’s still football’s most irresistible challenge. of them! They coach our children, referee our to take up the sport. cherished cup competition. There have been The FA has to set the matches and organise millions of fixtures. They some great matches, true FA Cup tales, huge TV In some senses I’ve spent a lifetime preparing When I was a youngster, I went on a school trip standards and achieve make our national game happen, for no other audiences and big crowds. for this job. I watched my first match in 1961. to Wembley for the first time. It was 1970 and reason than their love of the sport. They are real consensus, because It was Liverpool v Leyton Orient in the old I watched England beat Northern Ireland in their It’s also a significant revenue distributor through heroes and we need to celebrate their work and Second Division at Anfield - and I’ve loved the last home game before leaving to defend the the prize fund, broadcast payments and gate the integrity of the make sure we do everything we can to support game ever since. World Cup in Mexico. The scorers that night receipts. A good Cup run still has the power to them, because they support us. game is at stake read like something from football’s hall of fame - transform a club’s season - and remember this is My first football hero was not an Englishman but There’s never a dull moment in English football, Charlton, Hurst, Peters and Best. a competition that starts in August not January. There’s no better example of this than the a Scot: Bill Shankly. His passion, honesty and but it’s a particularly exciting time to join The FA. critical area of governance. The FA has to set attitude towards people who followed the game Now, the new Wembley Stadium is little more I’m lucky that, thanks to a 25-year career in the The England team are on course to qualify for the the standards and achieve consensus, because captivated me and his enthusiasm and straight- than a year away from its opening game. media, I have made so many friends in football. World Cup next year in Germany, thanks to an the integrity of the game is at stake. talking became a touchstone for my own life. Wembley will play a major role in The FA’s They have been hugely welcoming to me on my impressive string of performances in competitive Thousands of matches every week result in future. The stadium will not only be a magnificent taking up the new post. I’m thrilled to have found those same qualities matches. We have a strong squad with a great thousands of incidents and controversies and the stage for our biggest events but also has the amongst the team of people here at The FA. team spirit and an excellent coaching team. I will But make no mistake: friendships will be put to profile of the sport means that controversy can potential to be a major revenue generator for One of my main priorities will be to bring ensure that The FA gives them the best chance one side if I have to protect the game’s wider be found off the pitch, as well as on. Sport The FA to re-invest in football. stability to the organisation, to enable people to of success in Germany and that they head to the interest. I believe in being communicative and depends upon respect - for officials and for get on with their jobs for the good of football World Cup in the best possible shape. Success Of course, one of my earliest priorities was to collaborative, working with people rather than other players. at every level. for the England team engages the whole nation visit Wembley for myself and to meet the team against them. To that end, I will continue to The image of the game is enormously important and energises our game at all levels. of people behind the project. Even under engage in dialogue with our friends at the And let’s remember what that means. for its long-term health. In recent months it has construction, it is simply stunning. I have no Premier League and Football League, and the Or should I say England teams? This summer come under attack for the way in which match Every week in England, some 7 million adults doubt that we’re building a stadium worthy of whole of the national game, and also maintain the cream of the European women’s game comes officials seem increasingly to be put under and 5 million children take part in football. the Wembley name - one that will be the pride good relationships with FIFA and UEFA, our to the North West for the UEFA European pressure by angry and, at times, offensive More than 40,000 clubs play in 2,000 leagues of the whole country and the envy of the rest of broadcast partners, commercial partners, Women’s Championship. Hope Powell and her players. This must stop. At the top of the game on 45,000 pitches. Football is the number one the world. Government and all of The FA’s stakeholders. team will go into the tournament on the back of and right down through to park football, we must school sport and the most popular participation some excellent results and although they’re in a Multiplex, the company building Wembley And the most significant among these are the make sure that referees and their assistants are sport for both sexes. The 92 Premier and Football tough group, they’re confident of doing Stadium, know how closely the world is watching fans, who remain the lifeblood of the game.