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ADFL into its 98th season!

  • 28/08/18
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Despite the general decline in adult football ADFL goes on!

Many were of the opinion that last season would be the last for the ADFL and despite gallant efforts for over the recent years in seeking to rejuvenate interest in local adult football, including seeking to intergrate youth teams now passed 18 yrs into the League, it seemed everything was falling on deaf ears!!
However after some radical thinking in seeking to redress the problem of having a small League [5-6 teams!] it was evident other Leagues were facing the same problem, and so contact was made with Salisbury Sat League [also with currently 5 teams!] to see if a inter-league competition might be feasible.
Thankfully the Management Committee of both Leagues were forward thinking enough to embrace the idea and so formal agreement was reached where each team in each League would play each other culminating in a semi final knock out stage to provide finalists in what is now known as the Alex Hopkins Shield.

Having this arrangement now means Clubs can expect around 15 minimum to 18/20 maximum games depending on Cup successes, which given the Christmas and New Year breaks, let alone the weather, will provide a full season of games against different opposition.

They say 'desperate situations need desperate measures' and although we wouldn't describe this as 'desperate', it certainly is innovative, and given the support and enthusiasm from both Committees and Clubs so far, looks like we've cracked this one!!