BOLTON and Bury District Junior Football League have become the first organisation to attain Charter Standard League status in Lancashire.

Members of the committee were invited to the Reebok Stadium, prior to the West Ham game, for the presentation by Brett Warburton, Wanderers’ vice-chairman; David Burgess, chief executive of the Lancashire FA; and John Treacy, league development officer of the Lancashire FA.

The BBDJFL is the only league affiliated to Lancashire FA to have such a prestigious kitemark in recognition of their work at grassroots level.

The league currently offers football for around 500 teams playing mini soccer from under-7s to u10s, 9 v 9 football at u11s to u12s and 11 v 11 football at u12s to u16s. Many of these teams are mixed with girls and boys. The league also offers dedicated girls sections for u10s to u16s.

In all, the BBDJFL caters for around 5,300 youngsters which take part in three formats of football each weekend.

The league also has around 140 referees, with many moving on to the adult game and members of the Lancashire FA Referee Academy.

The league has more Charter Standard teams and clubs than any other league and are recognised nationally as the model other leagues should follow.

The league is a proud partner to Bolton Wanderers, who are the only Premier League club that takes the time to build links with a local league, provides support to the league presentation nights and provides the Reebok and their academy facilities for league cup finals League chairman Warren Barlow said: “We are delighted to receive the FA Charter Standard League award.

“It is even more satisfying as we are the first ever league in Lancashire to achieve this award which is extremely fulfilling considering we are also the largest, fastest growing league in the region, with more clubs, players, referees and coaches wanting to join our league year in year out.”

“All this has been done on the backdrop of the only league in the country that has never issued fines to any member of our league as we have a strict no fines policy.

“We believe fining grassroots clubs serves no purpose whatsoever and, in fact, removes finances from clubs, many of which are struggling to make ends meet to provide a service for the youth in the region.

“Instead we prefer to create the right atmosphere for good behaviour, raising standards through advice and encouragement and if teams or clubs do not come up to the required standard they may be refused entry into our league in subsequent seasons.

“We have found that this stance has ensured that the behaviour in our league is at a good standard and, as a result, the enjoyment for the youngsters playing the game is increased.”

“A big thank you must go to our committee members and member clubs who have worked hard over a number of seasons to attain this high standard whilst moving forward with the growth and development programme to increase participation in this region.”