Facilities

This is a slightly tricky one as no-one will want to do a full health and safety audit on their child's club! Having said that, if you do get the opportunity to see the club facilities a quick look around may well tell you quite a lot about how the club is run.

Some of the questions you might want to ask yourself include - Are the general facilities in good condition? Do the goalposts look safe and rust free? Do the pitches look well maintained and free of anything dogs might leave behind?

Of course facilities will vary widely. Some very well run clubs sometimes have little option than to rent piches from councils who might struggle to keep the facilities in the highest order. Similarly if it's a public park the club will be at the mercy of other users who might not bat an eyelid at their dog leaving a present behind on the pitch.