BRITISH football’s recent success is in danger, according to union GMB, after figures showed that more than 700 council pitches have been lost to Tory austerity.

In a week where four English teams competed for European club football’s biggest prizes, and Scotland and England are set to face each other in the Women’s World Cup, the news that the next generation are losing areas to hone their talent is devastating.

With the government slashing council spending by 49 per cent since 2010, kids’ playing spaces have been one of the hardest hit areas.