Sunday League football at Harper Green football pitches, Farnworth. Red Lion, (red strip) v Gibraltar Rock, (blue and white strip) .Photo Paul Sterritt
FORMER Bolton Sunday League stalwart Bob Hazeldean reckons a combination of the Playstation Generation' and the rising cost of football is to blame for the loss of teams to the competition.
Hazeldean, who was manager of Little Lever Football Club between 1978 and 1997, remembers the glory days of the league when there were 14 teams in five divisions competing for honours.
"The rising cost of football and the fact that kids would rather play on their Playstation is really affecting amateur football," Hazeldean said. "There are not as many teams playing, and the standard has gone down. In the late seventies, there were some great teams in the Premier Division.
"We had top players from the area playing for teams like Ramsbottom and Stoneclough on a Saturday, then turning out in our league. The standard has definitely gone down.
"That applies to other sports, though. I used to play squash at a decent level, and there were better players and facilities around then than now."
Hazeldean added: "If Bob Shuttleworth walked away, the league would fold.
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"It's a bit of a one-man show. People just don't help out as much any more.
"When I was manager of Little Lever, I would get there at 9am and mark the pitch up, put the nets up, hang the kits up, put the showers on, sweep the pavilion and put the brews on."
Hazeldean, 56, was in charge of a successful Little Lever side that went through the leagues to perform well in the top division - and also sprung some shocks in the Goldline Trophy. Hazeldean added: "In 1996/97, we got to the semi-finals of the Goldline against some very good teams.
"We were only knocked out by Atherton LR in the semis and they went on and won the cup.
"We had 400 on for the semi at Radcliffe Borough. It was a great day. The first two years after I left the game I was like a bear with a sore head. But, I am fine now. I had to give up because of age really."
Cant agree entirely. I know lots of kids who would jump at the chance to play....where do they begin ?
There was a time, many were pub teams, these grew with juniors feeding them later. Pubs for various reasons, dont have or encourage teams anymore. Perhaps instead of whining, the [bold]Bolton News[/bold] advertised free for young players to go along and train at various pitches it would help ?
Go to the primary Schools, kids there would love to play, ban the Touchline Manager Dads and let the kids train and play.
Mentality's need to change with the times. Gone or very few are the days where folks would bang on the door, they need now to go out and tell people what they have on offer........or die.
A few all weather pitches paid for by Central Funds might help as they do in Europe.
Apology's if these seems like a rant...its meant to!
Cant agree entirely. I know lots of kids who would jump at the chance to play....where do they begin ?
There was a time, many were pub teams, these grew with juniors feeding them later. Pubs for various reasons, dont have or encourage teams anymore. Perhaps instead of whining, the Bolton News advertised free for young players to go along and train at various pitches it would help ?
Go to the primary Schools, kids there would love to play, ban the Touchline Manager Dads and let the kids train and play.
Mentality's need to change with the times. Gone or very few are the days where folks would bang on the door, they need now to go out and tell people what they have on offer........or die.
A few all weather pitches paid for by Central Funds might help as they do in Europe.
Apology's if these seems like a rant...its meant to!
Posted by: Darcy Lever FC, Bolton on 10:09pm Thu 3 Apr 08
Agreed, Anyone looking to play for teams visit the web, search for Sunday League and find probably 4/5 clubs who have websites. We have one www.darcyleverfc.co.
uk and www.darcyleverfc.co.
uk/forum - Johnson Fold FC, Egerton and Jolly Ploughman are ones I know of. The Bolton Sunday League does NOT have a central site where ALL teams, results, and websites can be stored. That is needed and why can't the Bolton News help? They are our LOCAL paper and all we get if we are lucky is a small section.
If any potential players reading this are looking for a club, we are still looking for players to join us. Pop on to our forum and register and leave your details, I will get back to you.
Thanks
Agreed, Anyone looking to play for teams visit the web, search for Sunday League and find probably 4/5 clubs who have websites. We have one www.darcyleverfc.co.
uk and www.darcyleverfc.co.
uk/forum - Johnson Fold FC, Egerton and Jolly Ploughman are ones I know of. The Bolton Sunday League does NOT have a central site where ALL teams, results, and websites can be stored. That is needed and why can't the Bolton News help? They are our LOCAL paper and all we get if we are lucky is a small section.
If any potential players reading this are looking for a club, we are still looking for players to join us. Pop on to our forum and register and leave your details, I will get back to you.
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