WORK BY LEAGUE HAS PIN POINT SUCCESS

A BIG push is on this year at Hexham Courant to give more publicity to junior football in the area.

Prior to the new season, only youngsters under the age of 10 were getting weekly coverage, but there was a host (35 teams when I counted) between 10 and 18 who were not getting the credit they deserved.

But junior football is massively important, and the feedback from parents and coaches about their joy at seeing their children’s name appear in the newspaper has been very pleasing.
 

And it makes sense to give it more column space, particularly when we have one of the greatest leagues in the country on our doorstep in the form of the Pin Point RecruitmentJunior Football League.
 

I find myself constantly caught off guard by the passion, dedication and commitment poured into the league by all participants.
 

It is the league committee who impress me most, because it cannot be easy looking after the copious amount of divisions it runs, catering for 7,500 young players representing more than 400 teams.
 

Press liaison man Gordon Stewart deserves a particular mention as the work he does to get mention of PPRJFL, not just in the Courant but across the North-East, is out of this world.
 

He is on hand at any time to answer any queries and, if you ask something of him, he is on it like a flash.
 

He and fellow committee members ensure that there are a host of activities on for the region’s youngsters, with ball boy places at Newcastle United games and half term football competitions just some of the extras it offers.
 

This infectious drive to provide the best opportunities for children rubs off on clubs, and I have been more than thrilled with the excellent contribution from Tynedale teams so far.
 

Leading the way are Prudhoe YC, Hexham, Corbridge United and, latterly, Prudhoe Town, whose trouble in getting results and scorers to us is much appreciated.
 

My only wish was that more local teams would follow their neighbours’ shining example to put their players in the headlines.