THE use of repeat substitutions in grassroots football is set to become a permanent fixture in Worcestershire.

Teams being able to replace up to five players as many times as they like during a match has been trialled by the McDonald’s Worcester and District League for the past two seasons and for three in the BirdseyeSports Evesham League.

Now the Football Association are allowing all adult and junior 11-a-side leagues from below step seven of the non-league pyramid — West Midlands League Division Two — to implement the use of rolling substitutions during matches.

The pilot scheme proved so successful in its first season in the Worcester League that there was overwhelming support for it to continue into the current campaign.

Clubs like it because it enables them to keep interest levels up during a time when leagues are struggling by using five substitutes rather than just three from five.

League secretary Tim Phillips said: “We have had it for two seasons now. We did a survey at the end of last season and about 95 per cent of clubs were in favour of it.

“The main reason was that they are able to keep more players interested and it’s gone down very well.”

Premier Division Arrow Upton 2000 secretary Brian Poyner said: “It’s a brilliant idea. It’s keeping players in the game.

“When you could name five subs and only play three, people weren’t turning up, but now they are because they know they are going to get a game.”

Rhys Goode, secretary of Division Four leaders Drakes Broughton Rangers, said: “We have usually had a big squad so it’s good to be able to have five subs and say to players they will get a game.

“It has definitely improved the game from what it was before because nobody wants to stand around on a cold Sunday morning and not play.

“I know there are teams that are dropping out but in terms of Sunday football if it ever did happen to go back to three from five the level of involvement would be minimal and more teams would drop out.”

The Evesham League plan to continue but secretary Martin Malin doesn’t think it has boosted participation.

“It’s been a success but not for the reasons the FA would like,” he said. “They were hoping it would keep people interested in playing but I don’t think it’s had an effect on our numbers.

“Teams have used it to give people a game and if a player is injured they can come off for a bit.”

The scheme has not been tried in the Kidderminster League after clubs failed to show an interest.

Secretary Ernie Pyke cited the potential for the system to be abused with managers deliberately slowing the game down with continual substitutions.