One of the key principles underlining The Football League's commitment to Youth Development is the welfare of players taking part the programme. Indeed, every club has a designated Child Protection Officer, and anyone who has frequent or substantial access to young players is checked against information held by the Criminal Records Bureau.

Safeguarding children also forms an important part of the coaching qualification courses administered by the Football Association and is in line with the 'Strategy for Safeguarding Children and Young People in Sport' produced by Sport England and the NSPCC. Any suspicions and allegations of abuse are taken seriously and passed to the FA or to the Local Safeguarding Children's Board for investigation and possible sanction.

Ann Hussey, The Football League's Child Protection Officer, provides advice for clubs, as well as regular workshops to raise awareness of child protection issues and to update club representatives on changes in legislation.

"People are sending their children to Centres of Excellence or Academies and we have a duty of care. There is a growing need for people to want to feel comfortable that their children are going into a safe environment," she says. "It is our job to provide that."

It is not just about child protection, though, Hussey says; safeguarding children also branches into wider welfare areas like developing best practice systems for children attending sessions.

"It's also about basic procedures," Hussey says. "If you have young children coming in, have you got, for example, a policy that deals with dropping off or collecting? You would want clubs and parents to know what happens if mum doesn't come to collect their child at the end of a match."

Hussey is also keen to stress The Football League's commitment to equal opportunities within the Youth Development programme. "It's a crucial part of our agenda," she says. "We are committed to ensuring that everyone is treated fairly and on an equal basis, regardless of gender, age, racial origin, culture, religious belief, disability or sexual identity."