THE first Transition Festival in Wiltshire involved teams from Chippenham & District Football League and U18s teams from the Mid Wilts Youth & Minor Football League at Stanley Park, Chippenham.

The two leagues have created a partnership with support from Wiltshire FA to support the transition for youth players making the step up into open age football.

An initial planning meeting in February arranged the festival with the aim of providing youth teams and players with the chance to experience Sunday League football.

Currently only two per cent of the 1150 registered players in the Chippenham & District Sunday Football League are aged 16-19.

Tina McCosh, the Mid Wilts Youth & Minor Football League secretary said: “It’s very important to us to see these young players, many of whom have been with us since U7s, continue their football after U18s and creating a pathway into our local adult leagues will help this transition.

"It’s the first time we’ve worked with an adult league and hope to continue this partnership season after season to support local football”.

Chippenham & District Sunday League secretary Frank Harvey added: “This was a great opportunity for youth teams and managers to understand the level of ability and physicality involved in our league and from watching the games the youth players are clearly up to this next step in their football pathway.

"We are speaking to several youth clubs who are coming to the end of their youth football journeys and are actively encouraging them into our league as we fully appreciate the importance of bringing through our future players, managers and volunteers who will continue to develop and grow our league for years to come”.

For more information contact Adam Greaney, senior football development officer, on adam.greaney@wiltshirefa.com or 07956 212301.