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The idea of this
friendly league was the creation of Eddie Presland, who, in 1993 when he was the manager
of Long Lee Junior Football Club was always failing to arrange fixtures for his side.
Other managers were often trying to do exactly the same however by time the correct
managers had been contacted it was usually too late. So frequent was this occurence that
he decided to call a meeting of the managers he knew.
The meeting took place at the Globe Inn on Parkwood St (Keighley), and Eddie put his idea
of a friendly league to the other managers. He would arrange all the fixtures and send
them out to the managers and all they had to do was ring the away team to decide on when
the fixture would take place over that weekend.
The league was formed in 1993 when eight teams of under nines took part in what was called
the Keighley Friendly League.
In 1994 the size of the league increased to include an under eight league. The name was to
change to the Guide Inn Friendly League after its' new sponsor.
The league remained static for one season but in 1996 the name of the league changed once
more to what was to be a four year patronage of the Norman Bairstow Sports Friendly
League. The new millennium saw yet another new sponsor as Norman retired. Keeping the
original Keighley sponsorship alive Keybury Alarms stepped in to take on the patronage and
they intend this to be a long term commitment.
Each year a six a side competition is run for the clubs who participate in the league and
it has proved to be very successful.
In 1998 the league saw two changes, firstly it became sanctioned which means we can give
trophies to teams who come first and second in their respective groups (should finances
allow ) and secondly we introduced an annual trophy for each age group.
Eddie is a Sub Officer in the West Yorkshire Fire Service stationed at Keighley where he
has servied for the past 25 years. He has run the league and the six a side competition on
his own since it started in 1993. He says the introduction of a PC at home then a
lap top, fax and mobile phone has made his job a little easier, and hopefully this new
website will get information to all those involved quicker than ever before.
If Eddie had to make any comments about the league it would be to tell all players,
managers, spectators and especially the parents that they must remember that this is only
a friendly league and the games played in it should be played in such a way that everyone
enjoys themselves and for it not to be spoilt by arguing parents !
One last comment remember its the taking part not the winning that is the most important
fact in all sports.
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