GRAHAM Taylor has paid tribute to the army of volunteers at Britain's junior football clubs and insisted:  Every one of them deserves a medal.

The former England manager, a committed advocate of grass roots football, insists a huge debt of gratitude is owed to every volunteer for their commitment, dedication and sacrifice.

And he says that while not surprised by the spiralling costs of running junior teams he remains staggered by how the clubs continue to be run so professionally.

"We all know about the huge costs associated with running Premier League clubs," said Taylor, who was an ambassadors at Grass Roots Football LIVE at the NEC.

"But in many respects it can be just as difficult to balance the books at junior league level with the increasing financial commitments they have to fulfil.

"Often it is the people who can least afford it who find themselves having to keep clubs going and ensuring that our next generation of footballers have a club to play for during their formative years.

"I have a grandson who plays in a junior club and I know from first-hand experience the huge amount of effort which has to be expended by the club to raise funds.

"On the face of it to hear that junior teams need an average annual budget of £2,000 seems incredible.  But, when you start to add it all up, you can see how the costs grow."

Taylor says that our legions of junior clubs have a vital role to play in helping develop the next generation of footballers - both at parks and professional level.

"People talk about the David Beckham's and the Ronaldo's and the Messi's .... but where do they all start.

"They start on parks kicking a football around with their friends.  This is their first taste of football and the most important thing of all is that they enjoy it.

"If they don't enjoy it they won't carry on playing the game. There is a lot talked about our Academy systems allied to our professional clubs.  They are vitally important, of course.

"But the majority of our players will have started out on the parks playing for junior teams.  Where do the professional clubs scout them from?  From playing in local junior leagues, of course.

"It's vital that our young children enjoy playing football- playing football with their school colleagues and their friends in an atmosphere and environment where they are supported and encouraged by their parents and relatives." 

Taylor is encouraged that the number of junior clubs continues to rise ... and hopes that raising funds does not become a barrier to this.

"Our framework of junior clubs provides a huge social benefit to local communities up and down the country.

"We live in an era where kids can no longer play football on street corners.  Undoubtedly, one of the biggest issues for our younger generation is boredom and difficulties experienced with teenage gangs.

"Football is an outlet and every one of these junior clubs not only teaches them about football but the youngsters themselves learn about life skills - teamwork, bonding, friendship, hard work, loyalty."

Graham is an official ambassador for Precision Training - Britain's leading supply of specialist training aids and sports apparel.