Sunday League Football.

[Tichi1]

Greast thread fella's - Same applies here in Leeds with most pitches gone or devoid of Posts, Place in Roundhay park called "Soldiers fields" [Where solidiers trainerd back in the late 30's] that throughout the 70.s and 80,s would host about 20 simultanious games every Saturday afternoon or Sunday morning on any given weekend during the season - from teams aged from about under 10,s through to open age - Was up there Last Sinday morning - Just 2 pitches in use at 11.00am!

This probably explains why we have more and more foreign players in our top teams now.

[soulman101]

My last team was playing for the Gunmakers in the Wolvo Premier.

[mickd1961]

Greast thread fella's - Same applies here in Leeds with most pitches gone or devoid of Posts, Place in Roundhay park called "Soldiers fields" [Where solidiers trainerd back in the late 30's] that throughout the 70.s and 80,s would host about 20 simultanious games every Saturday afternoon or Sunday morning on any given weekend during the season - from teams aged from about under 10,s through to open age - Was up there Last Sinday morning - Just 2 pitches in use at 11.00am!

This probably explains why we have more and more foreign players in our top teams now.

I was “back home” in Harrogate around Xmas and was sad to see not one set of goals up on The Stray on the outskirts.

Back in the 70’s,80’s and 90’s there must’ve been 20 matches taking place each Sunday and Saturday back in those days.

My dad played for his team in there in the 50’s and 60’s and my grandad before him.

Also shocking on the dual carriageway as you drop down into Leeds on the road in from Great Harewood and there were no games going on on the pitches by the island where previously there were four or more each Sunday.

My own son of 27 hasn’t played since he was at school and another mate of mine is 22 and he can’t be a r s e d either.

Wish I hadn’t packed in at 43 as I’m now 58 and still run six days a week and I’m fit enough to play even now!

[soulman101]

Our Reece trains with Albion Monday nights, Tipton on the Thursday and plays in the u12 league on Sunday. But has never played with his mates over the park, i think he's missing out not having a game with your mates instead of being marked every time. At the Albion like all clubs they send a report on all aspects of his game, marking them with green , amber and red. Red is need to work on this, too much pressure on the kids.

[9goals2hattricks3pen]

I've been coaching kids football since the mid 90's and the quality of the coaching they receive has massively improved in that time. Also the support coaches get from The FA is far superior. Having said that it could be so much better.

As a Club we pride ourselves on not pressurising the kids. Club motto is 'Sint ut sunt aut non sint' which we translate as let them be as they are. Parents are not allowed to shout at players during matches and coaches encouraged to say little.

[WOODLANDSWOLF]

My last team was playing for the Gunmakers in the Wolvo Premier.

How did you end up playing for them Lloyd? Bloody funny old place the Gunmakers was, well when I used to drink there anyway. I'm not sure if it's still open or not. Will check.

[9goals2hattricks3pen]

I played one match for The Rising Sun (off Bromford Lane is it still there?) as a ringer when they were short. Took my boots with me on Saturday night and together with most of the rest of team enjoyed a lock in after hours and slept on the pub bench seats. Landlady did us breakfast before we played. Was there a pitch somwhere on the Lyng?

We came second.

Happy happy bl oody days.

[NortonBaggie]

I took a look today at the Kidderminster League that I played in until 2004 when I retired at 43.

Almost non of the sides from my era are still in existence and it’s also dropped from a total of seven divisions down to just four and each of those are with lesser numbers.

The Saturday League has gone completely which consisted of three divisions.

The Dudley and Cradley League I played in in the 80’s is now defunct......that was eight divisions during my time.

It seems that once kids pass 16 they no longer have the desire to play at this level.

How sad.

As I was driving down the Thorns Road last week I noticed there were no longer and goals up on the pitches where there were once three pitches.

No wonder our nation is becoming fatter.......very few have the desire to break sweat anymore.

We must have come across each other Mick, Played in Dudley & Cradley, Sandwell and Kidderminster Leagues from 79 to 99 when I retired with a broken leg (would have been a broken neck from my wife if I had gone back after that). I was a centre half who always "tried" to get the ball.

[mickd1961]

We must have come across each other Mick, Played in Dudley & Cradley, Sandwell and Kidderminster Leagues from 79 to 99 when I retired with a broken leg (would have been a broken neck from my wife if I had gone back after that). I was a centre half who always "tried" to get the ball.

I played at a very dismal level in the Dudley and Cradley League around 83-86 for Iverley Harriers and The Old Bush Revived from Rowley Regis plus a one match spell for The Britannia in Wollaston who dispensed with my services after the worst “one on one” situation ever perpetrated by a centre forward in the history of football 🤡⚰️🤭😩

I then had a long break due to three kids coming along and played again from 1997-2004 in the Kiddie League for The Shrubbery Cottage in Old Swinford also known as VSK 200 ( named after a player’s number plate &#128518

I finished up at Bird Rangers / Active Carriers FC who played from the Bird in Hand in Old Swinford.

Although we played in divisions 6 and 5 we were a very good side and in cup games we regularly beat teams from division 1 and 2 but the teams like Grange United in the Prem were just too good for us.

We had lads who went on to play for Lye Town and Stourbridge FC in our side like Matt Blakemore and Rob Taylor and the very talented Ben “ The Gunner “ Morse who was murdered in Halesowen two years ago.

Great times.......unreplaceable.

[Prando]

My amateur footballing endeavours started in 1966 for Parkfield in the Birmingham AFA, Saturday afternoons.
Sunday mornings I played for Tame Valley (Upper Tame Drainage Authority...I had a pal who played there) Then I moved to Oakridge a team based in Aldridge. These teams where both in the Sutton Sunday League.
Sunday standard was poorer than the AFA, but there was more team spirit, primarily due to the fact that after the match we would go to the pub !
PS Great to hear you mention my birth town mickd buddy...and the Stray. Happy memories.