BEING in charge of one of the area's best-known leagues is going to be a challenging job.

But each week, Warren Barlow gives a unique insight into the goings-on behind the scenes in the Bolton, Bury and District Football League in his own column.

This time, he discusses one of the exciting initiatives which is just around the corner for the junior clubs...a summer league.

 

 

REGULAR readers of this column will know that we have been working hard to see if we get a summer league up and running as a trial this year.

The dates we set, were from May 16 until July 25, which would give us 11-weekends of fun round-robin festival football.

We approached local cricket, rugby and other sports to try and minimise any impact on those sports and seek to build links with the other sports, as we passionately believe youngsters who play a variety of sports are better for it in the long-term.

We want to support those other sports to grow and develop, as we have.

Also, we approached the likes of Bolton Council, Bolton University, Bolton Wanderers, Bolton School, Ladybridge High and ESSA Academy who were all extremely supportive.

We received sanction from the Lancashire FA to run the competition and then we marketed it to clubs in the area with a target of 50 teams in year one.

The deadline for applications closed at the end of February and we were astounded to find 42 clubs had entered teams, numbering 180.

With an average 10 youngsters per squad we now have around 1,800 players aged from 6 years to 12 years playing in this summer league which is a phenomenal achievement considering it is one of the first of its kind in the country We are determined to make each of the 11 weeks extremely special for all involved, so keep reading this sports supplement for details to be released in the coming weeks.

- Warren will return next week with all the latest information and issues affecting the league.

If you cannot wait that long check him out on @bbdjfl or if you have an issue you want to hear Warren's views on then email robert.kelly@nqnw.co.uk