Brooking: England's future under threat from foreign imports

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

In an interview on BBC TV's Inside Sport, the FA's director of football development said the national team were being damaged by the lack of opportunities for home-grown players not only at first-team level but also in academy teams.

Scroll down for more

Brooking does not hold out much hope of change

Brooking said: 'When Italy won the last World Cup, I think they had 70 per cent of their League made up of domestic players. Spain, France, Holland are up there in the 60s. We're the lowest.

'If you start to fill the academies with the overseas youngsters, in a few years some won't make the grade and they will drift into the Football League and block that up as well. Will there be first-team opportunities for some of our youngsters between 17 and 21?

'We have nowhere near the depth we should have and that will be an issue as soon as you pick up injuries. We have that now in attack with the senior squad.'

Brooking admits his FA role does not give him the clout to order changes at academies of Premier League and Football League clubs.

He added: 'We asked the two Leagues for their permission to work with them and raise the standard. But that was refused and we got to the situation where no one has the power to do anything.'