Some exciting news to share on the eve of our game against Knaresborough Town AFC, courtesy of Chris Smith….
Selby Town are delighted to announce that they will have an U21 team competing in the Worksop Van Hire North Midlands Development Football League. As someone who has been writing match reports for clubs in this competition for three seasons I can only commend it.
This competition consists of four regional leagues with Selby alongside Club Thorne Colliery, Armthorpe Welfare, Retford FC, Harworth Colliery, Maltby Main and Worksop Town.
Once the league campaign is completed there will be a break and then a number of mini-leagues will be formed with the qualifiers going on to play each other in knock-out rounds for another trophy. Other opportunities for silverware will be a league cup and a ‘Champions of Champions’ competition contested by the winners of the regional leagues. The weather will hopefully be kinder next winter and spring as the leagues undeestandably did face problems with constantly waterlogged pitches but still managed to produce three exciting campaigns.
The NMDFL was set up to give young players the opportunity to compete at an age appropriate level and hopefully progress to the first teams at their respective sides or elsewhere. It is an ideal way for clubs to develop talent and this is a welcome and progressive move by the Robins who will have very experienced coaches and other support staff in place who I have already had the pleasure of working with.
Home games will be played on a Thursday which offers football fans the chance to see a live game on an evening where there isn’t traditionally much on offer and the cost will be less than that of an NCEL game.
For those who will be watching their family members play, this is also an opportunity to visit new grounds within easy travelling distance and strike up lasting friendships with the other regulars. I can’t recommend it enough.
The popularity of the NMDFL is evidenced by Selby being one of three new clubs in their section with the others being Armthorpe Welfare and Maltby Main. In the coming weeks I’ll give an overview of the sides that the Robins will face, including of course, a good local derby down the A614 at Thorne.
Selby Town FC Chairman Dave Haddock had this to say, “When the opportunity of increasing the number of teams involved at the club was put to me, and after listening to the plan that Mark and his coaching staff had put forward, myself and the committee were immediately excited at the prospect of being able to develop more younger players, and to be able to provide them with a clear progression into the first team. I’m looking forward to seeing the team in action, and to give our supporters further opportunity to see quality football at the Fairfax Plant Hire Stadium, with the possibility of seeing some real stars of the future.”
