THE Accrington and District Junior Football League has been awarded coveted FA Charter Standard League status.

The league was presented with the award at Blackburn Rovers’ recent home game against Fulham.

Lancashire FA officials, including chief executive David Burgess, and Rovers midfielder Keith Andrews made the pitch side presentation.

League secretary Alan Greenwood said he was delighted all the hard work put in to gain the award paid off.

He said: “We are pleased to have achieved the award and the hard work that goes with demonstrating forward planning for the League.

“We had to demonstrate a forward plan over a three-year period of attracting various forms of football - whether it be the development leagues of which we now run under sevens and under eights or girls football which we are now in dialogue with other leagues and clubs.

“Hopefully we will try and achieve this and hopefully we could have in place by the season 2011/12.

“This season, we have increased the number of teams in to the league by 20 and taking in to account we are a traditional Saturday morning league is a good stepping stone for the future of the league and club teams who wish to join us.”

Iain Kay, football development officer at the LFA, said: “It’s a great achievement for the league, their committee members and their member clubs.

“The league is seen as a model of good practice across Lancashire, along with six other Charter Standard Leagues.”