Central Warwickshire Youth Football League

The Central Warwickshire Youth Football League or also known as Central Warwickshire League (abbreviated to C.W.Y.F.L), are a minor / youth League who are affiliated members of the Birmingham County Football Association[1] The Central Warwickshire League hosts a number of football clubs from Under 7's to Under 18's who are formed within the County of Warwickshire. The league is also recognized under the Warwickshire County Football Affiliation.[2]

Central Warwickshire Youth Football League
Formation1969
PurposeYouth Football League
Location
President
Wally hedgly
WebsiteOfficial Website

History

The Central Warwickshire League was founded back in 1969 by the Founder Members: Ken Brownhill, Wally Hedgley and Paul Hyde. With the league originally consisting of nine football clubs: Claverdon, Balsall Hornets, Hockley Heath, Earlswood, Widney Athletic, Barston, Bearley United, Chadwick End and Rowington.[3]

The Central Warwickshire set-up over the years has become more efficient which is a complete contrast to the early days when the meeting room, peopled by local football managers, was a symbol of parochial worthiness, and a centre for exchange of opinions, reactionary and otherwise, towards the formation of a Boy's league.[4]

The Senior representative record was indeed enviable as they only lost one game in the season, and that set-back was in the 1969-70 season. It was Ken Brownhill who refused to be swayed from his selection of players, and thereby providing followers of the league with an era of big match, workmanlike soccer produced with collective zeal and determination and numerous glimpses of individual talent of a high order.

Divisional cup competitions were introduced as well as Supplementary Medals competitions to ensure interest throughout seasons and the annual 'Solihull News' Cup Final, which was played at Damson Lane, Elmdon, (through the generosity of Birmingham City F.C.) always attracts big crowds.

The introduction of better teams into the 'Friendly' Warwickshire league forced officials was to become more efficient. Affiliation with the Birmingham County Football Association and the enlistment of Mr. Rich Jones in 1971 to join the original league committee of Ken Brownhill, Wally Hedgley and Paul Hyde meant that with the aforementioned individual acting as custodian of the hitherto experimental Nursery League, a much closer unison between members became more evident as rules were formed and enforced.[4]

Efficiency became a priority as the league became stronger. Resentment simmered below the surface when rural teams struggled to match the skills of more 'polished' outsiders. But the newcomers provided the spur to urge the 'Sunday get-together teams' into an eventual motivated opposition.

Widney Athletic and Bearley United were recruited to the ranks and standards improved. Shirley Saturn were another powerful side, but the meteoric rise of Astwood Bank and Elmdon Colts in recent years was not predictable. The conjunction of men and players with undeniable talent was far from fortuitous. The precedents established by these teams challenged complacency and by stimulating envy, encouraged a revision of attitudes elsewhere. Hence the general improvement of standards throughout the C.W.Y.& B.L. (Central Warwickshire Youth and Boys League) as clubs sought to beat the 'unbeatables'.[4]

Mr.Colin Moscrop became a member of the committee in 1974 who was in charge of the referees for Nursery and Minor matches, with his experience this paved the way for his new post as Match and Referees Secretary for all three sections this campaign. The 1974-75 Season.[5] saw the introduction of the Minor League with the League growing to 31 teams.[5] Mr. Brian Holtom made an excellent secretary of this division and the clubs concerned co-operated one hundred per-cent to provide a smoothly run and incident free season. Woodbank boys proved worthy champions & set a very high standard.[4][5] The league also had an Under 16s representative side who managed to get victories against the Stratford-upon-Avon League and Notts Elizabethen League whilst drawing 4-4 against the Birmingham Boys League.[5]

1978 saw the start of the "Gordon Beard era[6]" and the famous Olton Ravens, Gordon went on to join the league committee in 1983 as a league secretary. As league secretary, Gordon immediately set about the expansion of the league. In his first season there were 83 teams that formed the Central Warwickshire League. By the 1988-89 season there were 183 teams, an increase of 100teams within 10 years, a figure Gordon was proud and eager to boast about. Within Olton Ravens, Gordon was known affectionately to all as "The Gaffer". He was an inspiration to many. A man of compassion. Where his lads were concerned, he disciplined the unruly. he protected and gave strength to the weak and comforted the lonely. He had a strict code of ethics within the club but had a heart of gold. Many former Ravens will tell of the annual trips to the Isle of Wight that they looked forward to and trips to Wales and Jersey, all paid for by Gordon. He ensured his Olton Ravens were ambassadors of junior football wherever they went. Sadly Gordon died in 1988 but left behind him a club that now graces the Central Warwickshire League. A respected club with enormous tradition. A club where its players are proud to wear the gold and black stripes.

2007 saw Wally Hedgley take up the President role within the league. The league saw the first Under 18's division formed in the 2008-09 season with Kings Norton winning the Premier Division.[7] One year later saw the introduction of the Presidents Cup for the Under 18's, again Kings Norton dominating the age group by winning both the League and Cup competition.[8]

By the 2009-10 season the Central Warwickshire Youth League had approximately 167 football clubs with over 600 teams which were made up of small sided teams and 11-a-side.[3]

Committee Members

Below is a list of past and present committee members of the Central Warwickshire Youth Football League:[3][9][10]

Current Committee Members

CWYFL Committee
Name Position From To
Wally Hedgley President 1969 Present
Dave Arrowsmith General Secretary 1994 Present
Nick Jobbins Divisional Secretary 1997 Present
Nigel Smith Chairman 2000 Present
Mark Burge Disciplinary Secretary 2005 Present
Jason Gibbons Assistant General Secretary 2006 Present
Kevin Carroll Referee Secretary 2007 Present
Ian Grand Welfare Officer 2010 Present
Chris Stowe Divisional Secretary 2011 Present
Steve Williams Divisional Secretary UnKnown Present
John Slater Treasurer UnKnown Present

Past Committee Members

CWYFL Cup Competitions

The Central Warwickshire League currently operates Divisional competitions which include:

  • CWYFL League Trophy
  • CWYFL League Cup
  • CWYFL Open Cup
  • CWYFL Presidents Cup (Under 18's Only)

Football Teams within the League are also legible to compete in the following Birmingham County F.A Cup competitions;

Teams may also compete in these other county cups:

  • Worcestershire County Sunday Cup (under 14's, 15's and 16's only)
  • Staffordshire County Youth Sunday Cup (under 15's and 16's only)

(which are hosted by the Worcestershire F.A and Staffordshire F.A respectively.)

CWYFL Open Cup

The Open Cup is a cup competition ran by the Central Warwickshire Youth Football League, the competition is "Open" to all teams from each division in that participate in that particular age group.

Key
^ -Shared Cup

CWYFL Open Cup Winners
Season Under 7's Under 8's Under 9's Under 10's Under 11's Under 12's Under 13's Under 14's Under 15's Under 16's Under 17's
2000-01[12] Smithswood Shirley Town Colts
2001-02[13] Cadbury Athletic
2002-03[14] Wharfside Colts / Smithswood^ TR 2000 Leafield Athletic Shenley Radford Kenilworth Wardens Sedgemere Sports / Romulus^ Shenley Radford CCC Boys
2003-04[15] Maypole Juniors Ulverley Hawks Solihull Juniors Kings Heath Concorde Moor Green Colts Bromsgrove Town NOT PLAYED
2004-05[16] Lickey End Wythall Juniors Cadbury Athletic Holy Name Coldland Colts Central Ajax Shirley Town
2005-06[17] Phoenix Rangers Binbrook Knowle Panthers Arden Forest Holy Name Holy Souls Arden Forest
2006-07[18] Kingfisher Colts Shenley Radford Binbrook Smithswood Coleshill Town Colts Phoenix United Arden Forest
2007-08[19] Phoenix Rangers Blossomfield Shenley Radford Feckenham Juniors West Hagley Shenley Radford Solihull Juniors
2008-09[20] Ulveryley Hawks Cadbury Athletic Redditch Town Lickey End Feckham Juniors Crusaders Shenley Radford
2009-10[21] Wythall Juniors Ulverley Hawks Newfield Lions Blossomfield Coleshill United Holy Name Moor Green Colts Holy Name
2010-11[22] Callowbrook Swifts Vikings F.C West Hagley Kingshurst Sporting Shenley Radford Bromsgrove Rovers West Hagley
2011-12[23] Solihull Juniors Navy Wychall Wanderers Redditch Borough Ulverley Hawks Reds Kingshurst Sporting Solihull Juniors Halesowen Town Colts
2012-13[24] Sutton United Wychall Wanderers Knowle Juniors West Hagley Santiago Colts Northfield Shenley Radford
2013-14[25] Studley Juniors Santiago Colts Castle Bromwich Holy Name[26] Arden Forest[27] Boldmere Falcons[28]
2014-15 Arden Forest Continental Star[29] Coleshill Town[30] Wychall Wanderers[31] Alvechurch Colts[32] Beacon Colts[33]
2015-16 Bournville Warriors[34] Coventry Sphinx[35] Kewford Eagles South[36] Wychall Wanderers[37] Arden Forest[38]

CWYFL League Cup

The League Cup is a cup competition ran by the Central Warwickshire Youth Football League, the competition comprises teams who compete in the top two divisions within their respective age groups. The competition is currently available for Under 11's to Under 16's age groups.

Key
^ -Shared Cup

CWYFL League Cup Winners
Season Under 7's Under 8's Under 9's Under 10's Under 11's Under 12's Under 13's Under 14's Under 15's Under 16's Under 17's
2000-01[12] Shirley Town Colts Smithswood
2001-02[13] Smithswood
2002-03[14] Maypole Juniors Holy Name Catshill Warriors CCC Boys Kenilworth Wardens Sedgemere Sports Lyndon Colts CCC Boys
2003-04[15] Maypole Juniors Bromsgrove Town Kingfisher Colts Leafield Athletic Arden Forest Bromsgrove Town / Arden Forest^ Erdington Boys
2004-05[16] Maypole United Whythall Juniors Ulverley Hawks Holy Name Kings Heath Concorde Arden Forest Bromsgrove Rovers
2005-06[17] Phoenix Rangers Binbrook Knowle Panthers Arden Forest Holy Name Holy Souls Arden Forest
2006-07[18] Bromford Lions Celtic Reds Binbrook Smithswood Cadbury Athletic Juniors Solihull Juniors Leafield Athletic
2007-08[19] Phoenix Rangers Blossomfield Halesowen Town Colts Phoenix United Crusaders Cadbury Athletic Juniors Solihull Juniors
2008-09[20] Wychall Wanderers Cadbury Athletic Phoenix Rangers Cadbury Athletic Juniors Binbrook Wythall Juniors Chelmsley Town Youth
2009-10[21] Wythall Juniors Ulverley Hawks Newfield Lions Headless Cross Coleshill United Holy Name Binbrook Webheath Wanderers
2010-11[22] Santiago Colts Ulverley Hawks Phoenix United Solihull Juniors Wychall Wanderers Woodbourne Sports Binbrook
2011-12[23] Kingshurst Sporting Wychall Wanderers Redditch Borough Oaklands Colts Kingshurst Sporting Wychall Wanderers Marston Green
2012-13[24] Sutton United Lichfield Round Table Ulverley Hawks Red Phoenix Rangers Solihull Juniors Wychall Wanderers
2013-14[39] Wychall Wanderers Kingshurst Sporting Northfield Town Wychall Wanderers Arden Forest[40] Beacon Colts Minor[41]

References

  1. "Birmingham County F.A League Contacts". Birmingham County F.A.
  2. "Warwickshire F.A minor leagues". Warwickshire FA. Archived from the original on 2014-05-04.
  3. "CWYFL league details". ourkidsport.com. Retrieved 2010. Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  4. "CWYFL 1974/75 Hand Book". CWYFL. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
  5. "CWYFL 1974/75 season archive". CWYFL.
  6. "Gordon Beard History". CWYfL. Retrieved 4 May 2014.
  7. "CWYFL0809". CWYFL.
  8. "CWYFL0910". CWYFL.
  9. "CWYFL committee members". CWYFL. Retrieved 4 May 2014.
  10. "CWYFL League Officers". CWYFL.
  11. "CWYFL county cup details". CWYFL.
  12. "CWYFL 2000-01 season". CWYFL.
  13. "CWYFL 2001-02 season". CWYFL.
  14. "CWYFL 2002-03 season". CWYFL.
  15. "CWYFL 2003-04 season". CWYFL.
  16. "CWYFL 2004-05 season". CWYFL.
  17. "CWYFL 2005-06 season". CWYFL.
  18. "CWYFL 2006-07 season". CWYFL.
  19. "CWYFL 2007-08 season". CWYFL.
  20. "CWYFL 2008-09 season". CWYFL.
  21. "CWYFL 2009-10 season". CWYFL.
  22. "CWYFL 2010-11 season". CWYFL.
  23. "CWYFL 2011-12 season". CWYFL.
  24. "CWYFL 2012-13 season". CWYFL.
  25. "2013/2014 » Central Warwickshire Youth Football League". cwyfl.org.uk. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
  26. "U13s Open Cup 2013-14". Full Time FA.
  27. "CWYFL Open Cup 2013/14 U14s". Full Time FA.
  28. "full-time.thefa.com/ProcessPublicSelect.do?psSelectedSeason=83428658". full-time.thefa.com. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
  29. "U12s Open Cup 2014-15". Full Time FA.
  30. "U13s Open Cup 2014-15". Full Time FA.
  31. "U14s Open Cup 2014-15". Full Time FA.
  32. "U15s Open Cup 2014-15". Full Time FA.
  33. "U16s Open Cup 2014-15". Full Time FA.
  34. "U12s Open Cup 2015-16". Full Time FA.
  35. "U13s Open Cup 2015-16". Full Time FA.
  36. "U14s Open Cup 2015-16". Full Time FA.
  37. "U15s Open Cup 2015-16". Full Time FA.
  38. "U16s Open Cup 2015-16". Full Time FA.
  39. "2013/2014 » Central Warwickshire Youth Football League". cwyfl.org.uk. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
  40. "Under 14's League Cup 2013/14". Full Time FA.
  41. "full-time.thefa.com/ProcessPublicSelect.do?psSelectedSeason=83428658". full-time.thefa.com. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
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