Yeovil Town Community Sports Trust, the charitable arm of Yeovil Town Football Club, are preparing for their first season in the Nerf Junior Premier League. The Trust have had teams accepted at under 13, 14, 15, and 16 levels.
The JPL teams are the latest step for the Trust to run in conjunction with their existing Development Centres and Advanced Centre established with the aim of developing local players. The Trust currently runs Development Centres in Yeovil, Taunton, Wells, Burnham On Sea, and Frome. In September 2012 the Trust opened an Advanced Centre for those players that were excelling and the idea behind this was that by training and playing against players of a similar ability their football development would be accelerated.
YTCST Development Officer Bob Thomas said “It is important for us at the Trust to work with local talented players but also to provide them with a strong connection with their local football club.
"The Development Centres and Advanced Centre have been a great success and the progress made by the Advanced Centre squads has been especially satisfying particularly at a time when we need to offer the participants an extra challenge by providing regular competitive fixtures. The Nerf Junior Premier League is the ideal way to provide this opportunity."
The JPL is run in a very similar way to Centre Of Excellence and Academy level football, the only difference being the incentive to play for league points and participate in cup competitions. All of our players will have the opportunity of representing Yeovil Town Football Club, through the Trust , at a competitive level which provides them with this exciting opportunity. It also provides an incentive for all of our squads, from under 8 to under 16 to be involved with YTFC. In the future we hope to expand with under 12 and under 18 squads competing in the league.”
An important consideration in the Trust’s decision to enter the JPL was that the players will still be able to take part in their normal junior football club programme.
Fixtures are played on a Saturday morning and therefore do not conflict with local leagues who operate on a Sunday. It is hoped that the Trust can work alongside local clubs in developing young footballers.
The Trust will be holding trials to top up their existing under 13 and 14 squads [2014/15 age groups] at the following venues and times:-
Wells Blue School, Wells, Somerset, BA5 2NR. Monday 7th July.
U13s/U14s – 5.00pm to 6.30pm.
Monkton Heathfield School, Taunton, Somerset, TA2 8PD. Tuesday 8th July
U13s/U14s – 6.00pm to 7.30pm
Alvington Development Complex, Yeovil, Somerset, BA22 8UX. Thursday 10th July
U13s – 6.00pm – 7.30pm
U14s – 7.30pm – 9.00pm
Places for the above trial dates must be booked in advance by emailing the Trust’s Development Officer Bob Thomas at bthomas@ytfc.net or by telephoning 01935 706671.
These contact details can be also be used for further information on any of our Development Centres or Advanced Centre squads.
