Shropshire Junior League
SJSJFL provides football for 20 clubs and 174 teams – all FA CS – and 2300+ players registered (FA Pilot League – Whole Game Player Registration System), development football (U8–U11) and open competition fixtures U12-U16 (including Shropshire Charity Cup (U13/U14), four Charity Trophy festivals for U10/U11s and a mid-winter fixture break December/January.

The League has 100% coverage by registered referees for all age groups as part of the National Referee Development Partner League (first for Shropshire/West Midlands Region). SJFL also provided a ninth Respect Futsal Festival (and U7/crèche introduction to Futsal) for 70 teams, 134 fixtures over 650 players participating within the league’s CS player development programme. The League is honoured to have ‘Respect’ partnership with Georgia Williams Trust that promotes respect not just in football but also the wider community. FA Silver Respect Accreditation in 2013 (reaccredited in 2015). Being the ‘first’ FA CS League (2009) SJFL continues to be at the forefront and was the First county league to implemented Respect Marshalls and have collective responsibility to create a fair/safe/enjoyable environment in which the game takes place. STITC support match-day Respect sponsorship (U8-U11s) and reward the league’s monthly winning respect team with match-day vouchers for home games at STFC (in partnership with STFC/SFA). SJFL is committed to inclusivity/eliminating all forms of discrimination and delivered ‘Kick It Out’ campaign at its Futsal Respect Festival and was honoured in 2016 at the Mayor of Shrewsbury’s Awards – receiving Gold award to SJFL in recognition of their achievements towards enhancing the wellbeing of young people in the area with excellence in their volunteer workforce contributing to the league’s successes. Since the new millennium SJFL has raised over £25000 and gifted 55 charities.

In further recognition of the SJFL outstanding contribution to community football the league was also awarded the FA Midlands Regional CS League of The Year 2017 (The McDonald’s FA Community CS League award for Shropshire and West Midlands). This is the third time the league has received the regional award since 2010 and the seventh consecutive year in being awarded the FA CS League of the year.

Photo courtesy of Yarrington Limited.