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Norfolk Christian football season up and running 

The Norfolk Christian Football League season is now fully underway with the adult and U16 leagues now up and running, reports Chairman Mike Culwick.

The league had a rather difficult start to the season with the very sad loss of Alan Barnes our league secretary, who ran the league almost single-handed, such was his expertise on all things football.
 
Paul Nice took over as league secretary, as well as managing the Silver Road adult team and it took several weeks for Paul to become accustomed to the complexity of the FA website and all the input needed to make the league operational.
 
The adult league has nine teams competing with a few close games and some games with very decisive wins, with many goals. The top two teams are exchanging places at the top, South Walsham St Marys are now in second position with a game in hand over Heigham Park Rangers who have a one point advantage, with St Johns in third place.
 
There is everything to play for; Eaton Eagles have only played two games compared with the 6 and 7 games played by the top two, so they could be the dark horse of the league.
 
Disappointedly, there have been too many cancellations and these will needed to be played by early next year in order to have a competitive cup run. The standard of play has been excellent and with games played with good attitudes shown all round.
 
The youth league has sadly been diminishing over the last five years, and we have only the U16 league running this season with four teams competing, Lighthouse (Sheringham Baptist), Easton, Silver Road and Brooke.
 
Brooke are well ahead and probably have the strongest squad in the league and are yet to register a defeat. Easton, who were the U14 league winners last year, are in second position followed by Silver Road and Lighthouse.
 
The games have been played in a really good spirit with the lads enjoying playing each other four times each by the end of the season. There will be a cup to play for too.
 
The ethos of the league remains strong and “Connecting churches to their community through football” is still the reason why we run the league. I believe many churches are still finding it difficult to do all they want to do due to lack of volunteer which has been exacerbated by the Covid pandemic as some folks are still reluctant to mix with gatherings of more than a few.
 
Football is great way to reach young people and their families, if any churches would like more info on this please contact the Christian League and we will gladly come to visit you.

Pictured above is action from the Bishop's Cup final in April 2022, between St John's and Stalham Baptist.



 


Published: 20/11/2022


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