Formed in 2003, the North Wilts & District Football League is now the biggest youth and minor league in Wiltshire. In five seasons the league has seen a total of 12,500 games played and 19,802 boys and girls registered to play organised competitive football.

This season over 300 teams are signed up and for the first time the league now boasts two under 18 divisions, League secretary Margaret Rivers said: “This is a great achievement for both the clubs and league and extremely encouraging that the older boys are continuing to play youth football for much longer.

“Over 5,000 children were registered to the North Wilts league last season and this looks set to reach over 6,000 boys and girls playing in our league by the end of next season.”

League officials are actively working with Swindon Borough Council to ensure that more playing facilities become available for youth and minor football. Last season 43 teams folded with the main reason being a lack of pitches. This in turn meant that over 500 children were denied the opportunity to play grassroots football. Rivers added: “This project remains at the top of our list of priorities and in partnership with the local authority we aim to achieve this with their support.

“Many more exciting projects are underway for next season assisted by our League Sponsors ESP Print and Mann Egerton, Swindon and we thank them for their continued support.

“We look forward to another exciting but very busy season and this would not be possible but for the excellent administration and organisational skills of a very small team of league officers who give up so much of their time – but certainly wouldn’t happen without our member clubs who are the backbone of this league.”