THE FOUNDER of Barnsley Junior Football League is saddened to have closed it down this summer after 11 years – leaving children with no leagues based in the town.
The league was set up in 2015 by Gavin Logan with 28 teams then grew to 160 but that has halved in the last two years.
Logan said: “I wanted to bring junior football back into the area to save travel. It’s been a long and amazing journey.
“A lot of people didn’t give us a year never mind a decade.
“We have done a lot of good over the years and won some awards.
“We wanted to get kids off the streets and off their computers and enjoying football locally and socialise with family and friends. But instead of having fun, it’s becoming increasingly competitive when we are told it’s non-competitive by our governing body.
“There is so much more going on on the sidelines with parents and coaches.
“It’s not enjoyable now.
“Since lockdown, managers do not feel they are getting competitiveness in the Barnsley league due to the fall in team numbers. They are having to go back to the Sheffield and Doncaster leagues.
“The FA changing to three-a-side format for under sevens and under eights is not going down well.
“It is to improve skills levels, but I do not know how you can enforce it.
“It’s not what we want to be part of.
“There are too many mandatory changes being phased in by the FA.
“We think it is going to make life harder. I have had a fantastic and loyal team around me over the years who I am so grateful to, unfortunately we together have decided it’s time to call it a day.”
Logan had hoped to hand the league over to new organisers.
“I am not getting any younger. After major surgeries I have personally decided to retire at the end of this season and spend more time with my family.
“Also, my management team all decided for similar reasons to also retire.
“Some people did come forward with a view to take over and continue our legacy. When I explain what is involved and the amount of time they need to commit to running the league, they say it is too much to do and is very time consuming. We fully understand that.
“It is a real shame and extremely hard to take.”
