YOUTH FOOTBALL: League looks to re-grow its team numbers
The league for under-18 players, for youths aged from 16 to 19 years old, has seen participation levels going down, so much so that it now only has 20-plus clubs and two divisions compared to its former volumes of 40-plus and four divisions.
LIFL press officer John Mulhall said there were various reasons for the decline in numbers, citing university/college, football on TV on Sundays, weekend part-time jobs and other social cultural factors.
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Hide AdJohn added: “In general, grass roots football is failing to grow or survive in some areas because of poor facilities, lack of volunteers to run and coach teams and a shortage of money to support hiring of pitches and the higher cost of kit and training gear.”
The league was initially formed just over 20 years ago to provide a football competition for players under 18 but outside the lower age of 16 which normally ends youth status for players. LIFL started an under-21 league in 2014-15 and this is now Lincolnshire FA’s U21 Midweek League.
For more information, visit www.leaguewebsite.co.uk/lifl