League Of Their Own
IT’S been another hugely successful season for the Mid-Wilts Mid-Wilts Youth
and Minor League. For the 30th year in succession the league has grown in size, with yet another record number of youngsters registered to play. This year there are 4,413 boys and girls registered to play in the league – that’s an increase of more than 500 on the previous season.
Eight new clubs joined the ever-expanding league for the 2006/7 campaign.
Keeping a league of this size running smoothly is a mammoth task and one
which league secretary Shirley Brigham reckons would be impossible without
new technology.
“When I started as secretary all communications with the clubs were by
post,” Shirley recalled.
“I just wouldn’t be able to do that these days. Fortunately we now have the
internet and e-mail. Now I can write one e-mail and send it to all the club
secretaries.
“Without that new technology there is no way the league could have grown as
it has.”
An innovation this season was the setting up of the league’s own website,
introduced as a joint venture between the league and the sponsors, the
Wiltshire Times and Chippenham News.
“The website has been an absolute brilliant success,” said Shirley.
“It has been universally welcomed by players, parents, club secretaries and
managers.
“I haven’t heard a bad word said about it.”
“It has served a dual purpose. I use it as an administration tool and to get
announcements out to the clubs.
“Running a league of this size is quite a logistical challenge and sometimes
mistakes are made. With the website I can correct them immediately.
“Secondly it is great for everyone to be kept up to date with the latest
results, league tables match reports and pictures.”
Shirley, now in her 12th season as secretary, believes the league’s
excellent reputation has contributed to its continued success. She said: “New clubs are asking to join us all the time because they hear the league is well-run, well-structured and competitive.
“If they have the right facilities then they are more than welcome to apply.
The more the merrier as far as I’m concerned.
Over the years the league has proved a training ground for many youngsters
who went on to make the grade as professional footballers. Lewis Haldane, who recently starred for Bristol Rovers in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy final at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, played for Shaw and Whitley as a boy and Darren Eadie, who went on to play for Norwich City, Leicester City and England under 21s started as a lad with Corsham.
Southampton’s exciting young winger Nathan Dyer is a Trowbridge Town Youth
old boy and Scott Sinclair, now with Chelsea but has been playing on loan
with distinction with Plymouth Argyle this season, was once with Bath
Arsenal.
Said Shirley: “Today, there are barrel loads of players in the league who are signed on with professional clubs and many more who are being watched by
scouts.” But Shirley stressed, the league is for players of all abilities.
“We go to great lengths to try ensure no team will be playing well above or
below their own standard. “We want the leagues to be competitive but we also want the kids to enjoy it. There’s no fun in turning up every week and losing by 10 or 15 goals to nil.”
A seeding system has been introduced in the under nines and under 11s
divisions, with the divisions re-structured if any teams are doing very well or really struggling. I don’t suppose the founders of the league could ever have imagined it would grow as it has.”
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