The future of Shropshire amateur football comes under the spotlight at a special meeting at the county FA headquarters in Shrewsbury tonight – with the possibility of the grassroots game being revolutionised for local clubs.
Representatives of Shropshire’s three Saturday leagues and four Sunday leagues have been invited to attend this evening’s meeting which has been called by Mick Murphy, the county development manager.
Among the items up for discussion will be the possible amalgamation of leagues, particularly in Saturday football, and how that could make it easier to allocate referees to fixtures each weekend.
Neil Sambrook, office manager for Shropshire FA, said the meeting had been arranged to essentially help to try and safeguard the future of amateur football at senior level within the county.
“This is a platform for people to air their views,” he said. “It’s a forum and all the county’s senior leagues have been invited.
“Mick’s got a few ideas and this is a chance for the various leagues to put forward their ideas of where they believe the game is going.
“Nothing will be imposed on people and it’s an opportunity for the different leagues to stake their claims.”
Sambrook admitted the state of the grassroots game had become a growing concern with many clubs folding in recent years.
“Over the last six or seven years there has been a decline in Saturday football,” he said.
“Both the Shropshire Alliance, a league for Shrewsbury and north Shropshire clubs, and the Telford Combination have shrunk, while the Bridgnorth League has gone altogether.”
The viability of the Alliance and the Telford Combination joining forces with the Sportsjamkits.com County League, which currently boasts 25 clubs over two divisions, will be discussed tonight, including how practical it would be to have just one Saturday league in the county.
Shropshire’s four remaining Sunday leagues – Shrewsbury, Ironbridge, Telford and the dwindling Wem League – will also have the chance to have their say on the future of the game at grassroots level.
Tonight’s meeting takes place in the Shropshire FA offices at Shrewsbury Town’s Prostar Stadium, starting at 7pm.