Youth football is set for a comprehensive overhaul after the Football Association emphatically approved development plans yesterday.

The AGM at Wembley saw 87 per cent of voters back proposals which will see children up to under 11 playing smaller-sided games on appropriately-sized pitches from 2013/14.

It is aimed at improving technical skills, while there will also be big changes to leagues, with season-long competitions replaced by short trophy events and development matches.

It will have major implications for how youth football is reported, with only details from the finals of trophy competitions allowed to be published.

The news was met with a mixed response by Paul Lyon, fixtures secretary for the Oxford Mail Boys League.

He said: “I think the proposals are going to be good for youth football in terms of development.

“But when the Oxford Mail comes out on a Wednesday my ten-year-old wants to see where his team are and that will be lost in future.

“From a personal point of view that aspect is a shame, but we will have to see what we’re allowed to do.”

The league are set to introduce nine-a-side football for under 11s from September as a trial and are meeting with the Oxfordshire FA and Oxford City Council on Thursday to discuss the implications.