“SOME people think football is a matter of life and death. I assure you, it’s much more serious than that.”

These words from Bill Shankly, widely regarded as one of British football’s greatest managers, have served as a yardstick for countless players, managers and clubs alike over the years. The message was simple… win at all costs.

But in an era where thousands of young players put on their boots bidding to emulate their heroes in the professional game, are things being taken too far? Is the beautiful game threatening to descend into disorder?

It comes as the Essex FA confirmed its investigation into a children’s under-10s football game being abandoned last month, remains ongoing.

The match was between Wickford Town Leopards and Basildon-based Berry Boys Tigers at Billericay High School, in School Road.

A bystander told the Echo how the South East Essex Primary League game was abandoned because of the behaviour of some parents.

With this in mind, we have asked those involved what the culture is like on matchday, and how it needs to improve..

Paul Smith, 62, chairman of Canvey Island Football Club’s youth set up, believes incidents of games being abandoned are very isolated, but that the buck stops at parents to keep their cool.

He said: “If you were to have ten incidents of disorder at junior games, nine out of ten would come from parents.

“But my view is that whether it’s football, basketball, swimming or even a kids’ play at school, you will always have those who struggle to compose themselves, it doesn’t come from the kids.”

“I think it is very rare these days for a game to be called off, things have improved so much. This comes from the FA and also clubs with their welfare officers working to improve things.”

A Southend referee, who wishes to remain anonymous, believes that it is unusual to see junior games abandoned, and that the professional game serves as the main influence on players, not parents and players in age groups above.

He said: “I don’t think it’s typical for games to be cancelled because of the conduct of parents.

“My own personal view is that influence on the behaviour at junior football comes from higher up, what parents and players see on television. That is where the problem lies and where things are learned.”

The FA’s Respect programme, which launched in 2008, sets out four practical steps in a bid to improve behaviour of all involved in a match.

These include codes of conduct, managing the matchday environment, with the captain taking responsibility and the referee managing the game.

This season, youth clubs across the county are getting to grips with the introduction of the FA’s new online “Whole Game System.”

The one stop shop is aiming to bring about a significant change to how discipline is operated by county football associations, by separating disciplinary actions and fines.

As a general rule, disciplinary cases such as red cards, assault charges, a charge raised as a result of game being abandoned, will only have a response time of seven days.