Reprieve for 'banned' juniors (From Free Press Series)

Reprieve for 'banned' juniors

9:37am Thursday 9th July 2009

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)

THE Gwent County FA has backed down on a proposal to ban 53 players from East Gwent League football.

The body had threatened to enforce an existing Welsh FA ruling which says players must play within their county of residence. Youngsters living in Sedbury and Tutshill would thus qualify for Gloucestershire not Chepstow-based clubs.

But East Gwent Junior League secretary Derek Harris confirmed a compromise had been reached whereby 53 pre-registered children will be allowed to stay with the likes of Garden City and Thornwell until they are 16.

East Gwent clubs will not, however, be able to take players from the English side of the border in future.

Harris said: "It’s great news for the 53 players but it is a very sad day for the League because we had players coming from the Sedbury area for over 20 years.

"Over 50 per cent of kids there are Welsh, but cannot play football in their own country which is less than one mile away. Now they must travel 10 miles to the nearest club in England."

The East Gwent League has set up a sub-committee to look at the issue of boundaries for junior football, and hopes to review the issue in the future.

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)