Central Warwickshire Youth Football League


The Central Warwickshire Youth Football League or also known as Central Warwickshire League, are a minor / youth League who are affiliated members of the Birmingham County Football Association
The Central Warwickshire League hosts a number of football clubs from Under 7's to Under 18's who are formed within the County of Warwickshire. The league is also recognized under the Warwickshire County Football Affiliation.

History

The Central Warwickshire League was founded back in 1969 by the Founder Members: Ken Brownhill, Wally Hedgley and Paul Hyde. With the league originally consisting of nine football clubs: Claverdon, Balsall Hornets, Hockley Heath, Earlswood, Widney Athletic, Barston, Bearley United, Chadwick End and Rowington.
The Central Warwickshire set-up over the years has become more efficient which is a complete contrast to the early days when the meeting room, peopled by local football managers, was a symbol of parochial worthiness, and a centre for exchange of opinions, reactionary and otherwise, towards the formation of a Boy's league.
The Senior representative record was indeed enviable as they only lost one game in the season, and that set-back was in the 1969-70 season. It was Ken Brownhill who refused to be swayed from his selection of players, and thereby providing followers of the league with an era of big match, workmanlike soccer produced with collective zeal and determination and numerous glimpses of individual talent of a high order.
Divisional cup competitions were introduced as well as Supplementary Medals competitions to ensure interest throughout seasons and the annual 'Solihull News' Cup Final, which was played at Damson Lane, Elmdon, always attracts big crowds.
The introduction of better teams into the 'Friendly' Warwickshire league forced officials was to become more efficient. Affiliation with the Birmingham County Football Association and the enlistment of Mr. Rich Jones in 1971 to join the original league committee of Ken Brownhill, Wally Hedgley and Paul Hyde meant that with the aforementioned individual acting as custodian of the hitherto experimental Nursery League, a much closer unison between members became more evident as rules were formed and enforced.
Efficiency became a priority as the league became stronger. Resentment simmered below the surface when rural teams struggled to match the skills of more 'polished' outsiders. But the newcomers provided the spur to urge the 'Sunday get-together teams' into an eventual motivated opposition.
Widney Athletic and Bearley United were recruited to the ranks and standards improved. Shirley Saturn were another powerful side, but the meteoric rise of Astwood Bank and Elmdon Colts in recent years was not predictable. The conjunction of men and players with undeniable talent was far from fortuitous. The precedents established by these teams challenged complacency and by stimulating envy, encouraged a revision of attitudes elsewhere. Hence the general improvement of standards throughout the C.W.Y.& B.L. as clubs sought to beat the 'unbeatables'.
Mr.Colin Moscrop became a member of the committee in 1974 who was in charge of the referees for Nursery and Minor matches, with his experience this paved the way for his new post as Match and Referees Secretary for all three sections this campaign.
The 1974-75 Season. saw the introduction of the Minor League with the League growing to 31 teams. Mr. Brian Holtom made an excellent secretary of this division and the clubs concerned co-operated one hundred per-cent to provide a smoothly run and incident free season. Woodbank boys proved worthy champions & set a very high standard. The league also had an Under 16s representative side who managed to get victories against the Stratford-upon-Avon League and Notts Elizabethen League whilst drawing 4-4 against the Birmingham Boys League.
1978 saw the start of the "Gordon Beard era" and the famous Olton Ravens, Gordon went on to join the league committee in 1983 as a league secretary. As league secretary, Gordon immediately set about the expansion of the league. In his first season there were 83 teams that formed the Central Warwickshire League. By the 1988-89 season there were 183 teams, an increase of 100teams within 10 years, a figure Gordon was proud and eager to boast about.
Within Olton Ravens, Gordon was known affectionately to all as "The Gaffer". He was an inspiration to many. A man of compassion. Where his lads were concerned, he disciplined the unruly. he protected and gave strength to the weak and comforted the lonely. He had a strict code of ethics within the club but had a heart of gold. Many former Ravens will tell of the annual trips to the Isle of Wight that they looked forward to and trips to Wales and Jersey, all paid for by Gordon. He ensured his Olton Ravens were ambassadors of junior football wherever they went.
Sadly Gordon died in 1988 but left behind him a club that now graces the Central Warwickshire League. A respected club with enormous tradition. A club where its players are proud to wear the gold and black stripes.
2007 saw Wally Hedgley take up the President role within the league. The league saw the first Under 18's division formed in the 2008-09 season with Kings Norton winning the Premier Division. One year later saw the introduction of the Presidents Cup for the Under 18's, again Kings Norton dominating the age group by winning both the League and Cup competition.
By the 2009-10 season the Central Warwickshire Youth League had approximately 167 football clubs with over 600 teams which were made up of small sided teams and 11-a-side.

Committee Members

Below is a list of past and present committee members of the Central Warwickshire Youth Football League:
Current Committee Members
NamePositionFromTo
Wally HedgleyPresident1969Present
Dave ArrowsmithGeneral Secretary1994Present
Nick JobbinsDivisional Secretary1997Present
Nigel SmithChairman2000Present
Mark BurgeDisciplinary Secretary2005Present
Jason GibbonsAssistant General Secretary2006Present
Kevin CarrollReferee Secretary2007Present
Ian GrandWelfare Officer2010Present
Chris StoweDivisional Secretary2011Present
Steve WilliamsDivisional SecretaryUnKnownPresent
John SlaterTreasurerUnKnownPresent

Past Committee Members

The Central Warwickshire League currently operates Divisional competitions which include:
Football Teams within the League are also legible to compete in the following Birmingham County F.A Cup competitions;
Teams may also compete in these other county cups:
The Open Cup is a cup competition ran by the Central Warwickshire Youth Football League, the competition is "Open" to all teams from each division in that participate in that particular age group.
Key

^ -Shared Cup
SeasonUnder 7'sUnder 8'sUnder 9'sUnder 10'sUnder 11'sUnder 12'sUnder 13'sUnder 14'sUnder 15'sUnder 16'sUnder 17's
2000-01SmithswoodShirley Town Colts
2001-02Cadbury Athletic
2002-03Wharfside Colts / Smithswood^TR 2000Leafield AthleticShenley RadfordKenilworth WardensSedgemere Sports / Romulus^Shenley RadfordCCC Boys
2003-04Maypole JuniorsUlverley HawksSolihull JuniorsKings Heath ConcordeMoor Green ColtsBromsgrove TownNOT PLAYED-
2004-05Lickey EndWythall JuniorsCadbury AthleticHoly NameColdland ColtsCentral AjaxShirley Town-
2005-06Phoenix RangersBinbrookKnowle PanthersArden ForestHoly NameHoly SoulsArden Forest-
2006-07Kingfisher ColtsShenley RadfordBinbrookSmithswoodColeshill Town ColtsPhoenix UnitedArden Forest-
2007-08Phoenix RangersBlossomfieldShenley RadfordFeckenham JuniorsWest HagleyShenley RadfordSolihull Juniors-
2008-09Ulveryley HawksCadbury AthleticRedditch TownLickey EndFeckham JuniorsCrusadersShenley Radford-
2009-10Wythall JuniorsUlverley HawksNewfield LionsBlossomfieldColeshill UnitedHoly NameMoor Green ColtsHoly Name-
2010-11Callowbrook SwiftsVikings F.CWest HagleyKingshurst SportingShenley RadfordBromsgrove RoversWest Hagley-
2011-12Solihull Juniors NavyWychall WanderersRedditch BoroughUlverley Hawks RedsKingshurst SportingSolihull JuniorsHalesowen Town Colts-
2012-13Sutton UnitedWychall WanderersKnowle JuniorsWest HagleySantiago Colts NorthfieldShenley Radford-
2013-14Studley JuniorsSantiago ColtsCastle BromwichHoly NameArden ForestBoldmere Falcons-
2014-15Arden ForestContinental StarColeshill TownWychall WanderersAlvechurch ColtsBeacon Colts-
2015-16Bournville WarriorsCoventry SphinxKewford Eagles SouthWychall WanderersArden Forest-

CWYFL League Cup

The League Cup is a cup competition ran by the Central Warwickshire Youth Football League, the competition comprises teams who compete in the top two divisions within their respective age groups. The competition is currently available for Under 11's to Under 16's age groups.
Key

^ -Shared Cup
SeasonUnder 7'sUnder 8'sUnder 9'sUnder 10'sUnder 11'sUnder 12'sUnder 13'sUnder 14'sUnder 15'sUnder 16'sUnder 17's
2000-01Shirley Town ColtsSmithswood
2001-02Smithswood
2002-03Maypole JuniorsHoly NameCatshill WarriorsCCC BoysKenilworth WardensSedgemere SportsLyndon ColtsCCC Boys
2003-04Maypole JuniorsBromsgrove TownKingfisher ColtsLeafield AthleticArden ForestBromsgrove Town / Arden Forest^Erdington Boys
2004-05Maypole UnitedWhythall JuniorsUlverley HawksHoly NameKings Heath ConcordeArden ForestBromsgrove Rovers
2005-06Phoenix RangersBinbrookKnowle PanthersArden ForestHoly NameHoly SoulsArden Forest
2006-07Bromford LionsCeltic RedsBinbrookSmithswoodCadbury Athletic JuniorsSolihull JuniorsLeafield Athletic
2007-08Phoenix RangersBlossomfieldHalesowen Town ColtsPhoenix UnitedCrusadersCadbury Athletic JuniorsSolihull Juniors
2008-09Wychall WanderersCadbury AthleticPhoenix RangersCadbury Athletic JuniorsBinbrookWythall JuniorsChelmsley Town Youth
2009-10Wythall JuniorsUlverley HawksNewfield LionsHeadless CrossColeshill UnitedHoly NameBinbrookWebheath Wanderers
2010-11Santiago ColtsUlverley HawksPhoenix UnitedSolihull JuniorsWychall WanderersWoodbourne SportsBinbrook
2011-12Kingshurst SportingWychall WanderersRedditch BoroughOaklands ColtsKingshurst SportingWychall WanderersMarston Green
2012-13Sutton UnitedLichfield Round TableUlverley Hawks RedPhoenix RangersSolihull JuniorsWychall Wanderers
2013-14Wychall WanderersKingshurst SportingNorthfield TownWychall WanderersArden ForestBeacon Colts Minor