By Keith Morris

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A ground-breaking Under-18 football competition was launched by the Norfolk Christian Football League (NCFL) on Saturday as the new season kicked off.

 

The latest addition is the men’s under-18 league, believed to be the first-ever such competition in the county at this level, which was launched at the UEA Sportspark on Saturday September 12.

 

The league launch followed on from discussions at both the Norfolk FA and the NCFL about how to bridge the gap between youth football, which ends at 16, and adult football.

 

NCFL secretary, Katharine Hume, a former company secretary at Cambridge United FC, said: “There is a big drop-off of lads playing football at the age of 16 when they find the gap to men’s football a bit too much to start with. The idea is to keep more lads playing football and enjoying it.”

 

The new competition is six-a-side and played on Astroturf between church-based sides from around greater Norwich, and they are looking for new teams to possibly join them after Christmas.

 

League fixture secretary, Tim Stapleford, said: “This new league will form a valuable bridge between our existing Under-16 league and the established adult league. In past seasons, many of the boys drifted away from Christian football competition once they had become 16 and had left school or continued into sixth form studies. We hope this will help connect them with the adult teams.”

 

Norfolk County FA are very supportive of the new venture and are taking a keen interest in the new league as it is the first at an Under-18 level to be launched in the county.

 

On Saturday, the five founder teams got things underway at UEA including St Andrews Easton (two teams), Holy Trinity, Bowthorpe Community Church & St Peters Easton) and Kings Church. The opening Under-18 games finished Trinity 4 v 1 St Peters, St Andrews 'A' 5 v 1 St Andrews 'B'.

 

A full league and cup programme has been arranged until Christmas, when new teams may be able to join the emerging league.

 

The new league is coordinated by David Taylor, Rob Whalen and Andy Woodcock, from St Andrews Football Club in Eaton. David attends Christchurch, Norwich, off the outer ring road of the city, and can be emailed for more information at d.j.taylor22@btconnect.com

 

The fast-growing Norfolk Christian Football League already runs competitions for boys and girls at Under 10 and boys leagues at Under-12, Under-14, Under-16 and adult levels. This year also sees the prospect, for the first time, of competitive matches between ladies church-based teams.

 

The NCFL was formed more than 30 years ago and in 1995 a youth section was created. Today over 50 teams play in its various competitions.