Archive - Thursday, 23 September 2004


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Ex-England striker Regis backs new youth league

FORMER England centre-forward Cyrille Regis will kick off a new Midlands youth development league tomorrow.

The STI Midland Junior Premier Football League will offer hundreds of footballers aged 12-16 in non-league youth schemes across the region a platform to develop their skills against players from fellow clubs.

This exciting new league will raise the quality of competition and create a clear pathway for talented players to progress from local junior football to semi-professional clubs and beyond.

Fourteen Nationwide Conference and Southern League clubs will participate in this first season of the league and AMROS Midland Junior Cup including Hereford United, Worcester City, Tamworth, Kettering Town, Gloucester City, Hinckley United, Cambridge City, Evesham United, Rugby United, Cinderford Town, Banbury United and Brackley Town, supplying teams across the Under-12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 age ranges.

All matches will be played on Saturday mornings throu-ghout the season starting at 11am although Worcester City will start their home games at 1pm.

Bob Marley, chairman of the MJPFL and youth development director at Worcester City, said :

'We have been inundated by players and parents who have expressed an interest in this league. Many have had bad experiences at professional club academies. We're hoping to offer them a more rewarding and fulfilling experience.

"Our aim is to plug the yawning gap between professional club academies and local junior football clubs by offering quality coaching for players within their own communities.

League president Regis, who will attend one of the opening games, added:"I wholeheartedly support this league and all it stands for.

"Not all players who make it in football start at professional clubs. I didn't have a single trial with a pro club but was playing First Division football at 19. I owed that to non-league football. I hope to get to see as many games as possible to see how the clubs and the players are progressing. I wish them all well."