Doncaster Boys League

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The Doncaster Free Press Junior Sunday Football League is a football league providing competitive matches for juniors aged from under Seven's to under Eighteen's. Both boys and girls participate but mixed football ends at under Ten's level. It is one of the biggest leagues in the country with clubs from Doncaster and surrounding area's taking part. The league was formed in 1968 and the original concept of the league was to provide football for those players who were considered not good enough to play for their school teams. The main contributors in the early days were; John Heald, Alan Bull & Tony Codrington.

Committee Members

The league is made up of a secretary, chairman, treasurer & several registrar's who look after each age group. The committee include:

R Smith (Secretary) B Cox (Chairman) T Box (Vice Chairman) K Mitchell (President) M Mitchell (Referee Liaison Officer) T Box U7. J Roberts U8, U9. S Mellor U10. L Skelton U11. D Naylor U12. S Durrant U13. L Kenny U14. N Teale U15. G Nicklin U16. K Gaines U18.

History

During the 1960's, school football, unlike today was the way forward for your budding 'soccer star'. The stars of yesteryear represented their school and to captain their side would be an honour. Unfortunately schools would only provide football for the best players and with limited places those whom were not considered as good were, pardon the pun left on the sidelines. The parents of these children created their own sides and formed village teams and thus the boys league was born. Over the last thirty years the boys league has over taken schools football and the majority of young players now prefer to represent their league teams then school. With the onset of the national curriculum in schools and no overtime pay for teachers outside of school hours, after school activities have virtually died. It could be said that the league in all its might has helped in the destruction of schools football. The boys league to its credit though, does offer opportunities to a wider range of abilities. Member clubs include: Scawthorpe Scorpions, Barnby Dun Colts, Hyde Park Knights, Bentley Pumas & Edlington White Stars. These clubs are considered to have the most influence amongst the league.

Popularity

The league could be considered to be a major success and is an ever growing enterprise. With more clubs joining each season the league continues to become more popular. Distractors to this will point out that the league has no rivals and has never been challenged. Why there is no competition is unknown.

Standards

The league have tried to introduce higher standards for those working with youngsters. It is expected but not a necessity for managers to have a basic football Association qualification, have attended a child protection & first-aid workshop and have a background check. (CRB) Unfortunately many managers & coaches do not possess these qualifications. Small-Sided games were introduced in 1994/95 season for the under ten's age group. This was in accordance with the Football Association ruling.

Criticism

The fact that the league rarely creats professional footballers, (only a handful of players from the boys league have made it to professional level)compared to other towns could be a factor of the 'poor' standard of football that the league generates. The emphasis on winning, 'trophy hunting' managers, out of control parents and poor coaching methods are negatives that the league would find hard to shake off. Some have suggested that the league provides kids for football where originally it provided football for kids. The majority of teams are managed by parents who have little or no idea how to work with youngsters. The future of football in this country is held in the hands of unqualified & unknowledgable people who do not possess enough hindsight into the game.

Professional footballers who have played in the boys league:

Darius Henderson (Watford) Played for Rossington Boys. Danny Schofield (Huddlesfield Town) Scawthorpe Scorpions. Ben Muirhead (Braford City) Hyde Park Knights

Controversy

One of the most controversial parts in the history of the league came in 1992 when the Barnby Dun Juniors, an under eleven's team, were accused of playing overage & unregistered players. The club, which was run by the Hillam brothers caused a major headache & some embarrassment for the league during seasons 1992/93 & 1993/94. Both brothers were later given 'Sine Die' suspensions. (Without date) This was to lead to them setting up a new club, under the noses of the league, the Gateway Inn Ravens, which a year later, during an extroadinary general meeting brought expulsion to the club and would gain them notoriety among the boys league. The news was carried locally by the papers & the league secretary at the time, John Heald was forced to admit that the affair had tarnished the leagues reputation. The brothers had their suspensions lifted in October 1994 due to outside pressures placed upon the league but agreed never to manage in the league again.

External Links