Sunday League Players

Quoted from towncryer

Incredible how the Sunday leagues have declined over the years.
I packed in a long time ago but in them days we had 11 Divisions in lincoln. Reckon it's down to about 6 now so that's an awful lot of teams that have packed in and loads of lads who I suspect would rather be out on the pop on Saturday nights than get up for a game of football on Sunday mornings.

Similar here in Grimsby. I was involved with running a number of Sunday League teams for many years. There used to be 10 Divisions of about 14 teams each, now were down to 5 Divisions with about 10 teams in each so there's over 50% less teams now than there was.

A lot of things have contributed to Sunday League decline in my opinion. Firstly the cost is now getting too much. I haven't been involved now for over a year but it was £36 for a pitch and £20 for a ref before you add on all the extra costs, of drinks, balls, bagwash etc etc without even going into the cost of a kit.

Also pubs now staying open all hours. In the past when pubs shut at 11pm you had to go onto a club which kicked out at 2am, now some people don't go out until about 11pm and I was often trying to ring people up 10 minutes before kick off when we were stood there with 9 men. Young kids too aren't coming through like they used to with the kids of today more interested in playing Fifa(Whatever year it is) rather than kicking a ball about.

I'm afraid Sunday football is dying on it bottom, just like the local Saturday League in Grimsby is no more. It will survive no doubt but I'm sure it will decline even further. Been out of it for over a year now and I don't miss it at all.

Retired now at 32.

Also think players get there fix from playing 5 a side and futsal in the week now. That never use to be around years ago.

5 aside is what's played more around here now. It's fast paced smaller pitches, I love it.

Hey Les really enjoyed my time at the Cricketers when your were secretary.  I also enjoyed reading your match reports in the sports telegraph and you did an amazing job.  I do miss Sunday League but had to give it up with the mrs being a nurse and working weekends.  I have a good career and being top scorer in most of the teams ive played for as well as winning a title.  Ive played div 1 so cant grumble.  Also played in lincolns league but the GY standards are better.

Still play the odd 5 aside when i can..

Quoted from Balthazar Bullitt

Are you sure you played Sunday league?

Yes definitely played Sunday League football.
Name a level of football and I played at it !!

Quoted from towncryer

Yes definitely played Sunday League football.
Name a level of football and I played at it !!

Premiership?  

The top division in lincoln Les is the premiership  

But Lincolns standards are worse than GY especially some of the pitches.

Ive played in east combination league

Quoted from Les Brechin

Premiership?  

I meant in terms of International, full time professional, part time professional, part time, Sunday league.

Quoted from Meza

The top division in lincoln Les is the premiership  

But Lincolns standards are worse than GY especially some of the pitches.

Ive played in east combination league

I'll give you it about the pitches, never played on 1 decent Sunday league pitch I don't think.
Played in 2 county cup semi finals in GY. One at the athletics stadium  (king george) ?? and won and one at the college on nuns corner and I think we lost that one. Sure we went back to a pub just over peaks parkway, think it's a Toby carvery now