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Streamlined Sunday soccer

by George Dodds
20/ 8/2008

FIFTEEN teams will compete for glory in the new Middleton Sunday League season which kicks-off on 7 September.

As a result the league will operate with seven teams in the Premier Division, the other eight making up Division One.

Despite an appeal for new teams, league officials found themselves having to line up with 11 fewer teams than last season.

Blackley-based teams Blackley Alliance, Premier Autoglass and Charlestown are among those who will not start the new campaign.

It opens the way for the top three from last year’s First Division to vie for Premier honours.

FC Radclyffe and Woodman had won promotion to the top flight through their on-field efforts last season, and they will now be joined by Dog Inn (formerly Red Barn) who finished third.

Another new name - but established team - is Hebers who competed under the name of Brunswick last season.

League secretary Peter Johnson said: "We have lost 11 teams from last season and haven’t managed to find any new clubs. With the boom in junior football it is increasingly difficult to find sponsorship, and there are less and less pubs willing to act as a base for those left. However, the teams that are there will be competitive, and it still promises to be a good season."

The teams will line up for the new season as follows:

Premier: Alliance, Cardinal Villa, Dog Inn, Gardeners, Langley Celtic, Langley Rangers, Radclyffe Arms, Woodman.

Division One: Hebers, Inter-Alliance, Middleton Colts, Old Cock (Middleton), Old Davids, Our Lady’s, St Clares.