11:00am Thursday 2nd September 2010
THE Worcester and District League gets under way this weekend with 80 teams chasing honours.
With a net increase of six teams from last season, league secretary Tim Phillips is pleased at a bigger Saturday division and the number of former youth teams making the step-up to adult football.
But Phillips has also sounded a warning to clubs ahead of the league’s involvement in the FA Respect campaign.
All matches will start with handshakes between both teams and match officials.
Phillips is keen all clubs take this seriously and wants to see a marked improvement in the behaviour of players towards referees and their opposition.
He said: “Players should remember they are playing recreational football for enjoyment at Worcester League level. There is no place for ill-discipline in our competition and I urge all clubs to take the Respect campaign on board.”
Powick will be defending their Saturday crown but can expect a strong challenge from last season’s runners-up VBL Sports and Malvern Town Reserves.
Phillips said: “We only had nine teams on Saturday last season and the competition was hanging by a thread.
“The management committee decided to waive league fees for the new campaign and we will now have 14 teams competing this year, including Malvern Town Reserves and Malvern Rangers, plus previous youth outfits Newtown Sports, Worcester Anchors, Worcester Raiders and YM Rangers.”
The influx of youth is added to on Sunday with debuts for Worcester Lynx, Malvern Rangers Colts and Worcester Colts, who will play as Perrywood AFC Reserves.
Phillips added: “A lot of clubs found there was nowhere to go after they had completed their under 17 programmes and we are glad we have been able to provide continuation football by finding places for them under the Worcester League umbrella.”
On Sunday, Arrow 2000 will seek a hat-trick of Premier Division titles with AFC Heenans again set to be hot on their heels.
A strong challenge is expected from two new clubs who have joined from the Evesham Sunday League in Upton Snodsbury and Crowle. AFC Mazak will be confident of a strong bid for the Division One title and it will be interesting to see how promoted teams Blue Star and Nunnery Wood Colts cope in a higher division.
Goodrest Juniors and Keyz04 have moved up to Division Two where VBL Sports are likely to be among the favourites for promotion.
Hallow FC are welcomed back to Sunday football in Division Three along with Nelson.
Malvern Victoria and fellow town teams MTFC Athletic and Inter Express are expected to make strong claims.
West Malvern are competing in Sunday football for the first time and take their place in Division Four where Westside are the hot pre-season favourites for honours.
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