LFA to end its girls football leagues (From Lancashire Telegraph)

LFA to end its girls football leagues

9:16am Tuesday 27th January 2009

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THE LANCASHIRE FA has defended plans to scrap its girls football leagues saying it will be better for the game in the long run.

From next season, the LFA will disband age groups under 10s to under 15s — with the under 16s to follow the year after.

The decision to revamp the structure of girls football comes following the demise in the number of teams in recent seasons.

Currently there are five established girls leagues — including the one run by the LFA — who all thrived following the 2005 UEFA Women’s European Championships which was based in the North West.

However the boom has been followed by a fall which has seen all five leagues struggle to attract teams. A meeting was held to explain the LFA’s decision.

Nick Horne, the LFA’s assistant secretary said: “We understand it will cause disruption in the short term but we firmly believe that, in the long run, this decision will benefit girls football.”

The LFA will now work to relocate teams in to leagues across the region, including the North Valley Friendly League which has teams from across East Lancashire. There are also plans to introduce an under 18s league in 2010/11 to provide a pathway for adult football and teams will filter in to the already established County League.

Horne said: “Following the boom, the decline has been clearly evident over the past couple of seasons with each league scrapping for the same clubs to enter the various age divisions.

“Teams currently participating in the LFA Girls League will be re-located to other leagues within the structure. By ceasing the LFA Girls League, the other leagues will benefit from increased number of teams providing a sustained and competitive league.”

However, the decision to scrap the LFA leagues has upset a number of local clubs who fear they may have to disband or join other leagues which are of a lower standard.

Burnley FC Girls and Ladies have been hit hardest but Mill Hill FC and Blue Star will also have to find new leagues for its teams.

Burnley currently have five teams in the league, an under nines waiting in wings to join next season and an under 12s team which have just left but were hoping to join again next season.

“We are in complete shock, this has come out of the blue,” said Lynn Tomlinson, secretary of Burnley FC Girls and Ladies. “We knew the league was struggling for numbers because there are so many other girls leagues but just to the pull the plug has taken us all by surprise.

“The clubs that have been affected are now trying to call a meeting to see what to do next. But we just don’t know what to do.

“We could join another league but, no disrespect to them, the standard is not as high as it is in the Lancashire FA Girls League.

“The truth is that we may have to disband a number of teams and how is that good for the development of girls football.”

Mill Hill Football Club have two teams in the league at under 10s and under 15s.

While the under 15s will not be affected, as they move up to the under 16s which will continue for another season, the under 10s are deliberating over its next move.

Club vice chairman Kelvin Wilkins said: “I think this is just another period of change for girls football and we will have to wait and see what happens.

“But I fear it could be damaging as it could limit the number of options we have.”

But Selena Voght, secretary of the North Valley Friendly League, said it was a decision the LFA had to take.

She said: “I think the problem as been that the LFA league is not sustainable, there are too many leagues and not enough teams.They realised that numbers were dwindling and decided to act upon.

“I’m sure it wasn’t a decision that was taken lightly and while in the short term it will cause disruption for those teams involved am I certain in the long run in will be better for girls football.”

And Selina said the league would welcome new members in the wake of the LFA ruling – although she did say she is wary of teams coming in who are of a higher standard.

“We would welcome any new teams to our league just as long as it is not to the detriment of our existing members. It would be unbeneficial to all concerned if a new team comes in and is far better than our existing teams.

“But that is something we will deal with if and when it arises.”

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