The Scarborough Minor League, a long-standing staple of junior grassroots football in the Scarborough area, is currently facing a serious threat of dissolution.
That's according to Matt Seeley, Club Chairman of West Pier Junior Football Club. The potential closure has sent a "bit of a shock" through local clubs and the community.
Mr Seeley stated that West Pier Junior Football Club, which is historically rooted in the town and run by volunteers, has learned that the league is under threat of closing due to a lack of "suitable people to basically run the league":
He highlighted that vacancies had been advertised, but it wasn't explicitly clear that the failure to fill these roles could lead to the "dissolution of the league".
This situation has seemingly come to light at the "eleventh hour," raising significant concerns among clubs. A pasted text circulating among stakeholders indicates that these decisions have been made without proper consultation, with discussions about potential reorganisation reportedly beginning months ago before the wider club community was informed. The primary issue cited is the lack of applicants for key league roles such as League Secretary, Registration Secretary, and Fixture Secretary. However, it is asserted that these positions have received "little to no public promotion," leading many to believe this outcome "may have been predetermined".
If the league dissolves, all teams could fall under the administration of either the York League and the North Riding FA. Under a current proposal, age groups U7–U11 would remain in Scarborough but would be affiliated with the York League rather than the current Scarborough Minor League structure. Age groups U12 and above would automatically transition into the York League.
This potential transition poses significant challenges, particularly for teams affiliated with the East Riding FA, who would be ineligible for the York League and instead required to travel to the Hull area for matches. Even for teams joining the York League, the travel burden is substantial, potentially involving journeys of up to an hour and a half to the other side of York. Mr Seeley described this as a "lot of 3 hours travel to play for 40 minutes" of football, adding to the "cost of relying on people for fuel" and other financial burdens for families amidst the cost of living challenges:
Mr Seeley stressed that the dissolution would have a "significant impact for the children of our community" in terms of their access to grassroots football. West Pier Juniors aims to make football accessible for all young people, keeping fees low and providing opportunities beyond just playing. The club currently has around 150 young players ranging from 5-6 years old up to 16 years old. He feels it is essential to protect and preserve the Scarborough Minor League because children deserve a "stable, local environment to enjoy and develop within the beautiful game" and the community "must have a say in decisions that directly affect its future". The focus, in his view, should be on "growing and strengthening our own league, not dissolving it".
Despite the challenges, Mr Seeley senses a "reinvigoration" and motivation among people now that the precarious situation has become clear. He believes there may have been a "lack of communication from the top within the FA and within the local leagues about the situation". Volunteers at West Pier Juniors, who balance jobs with running teams, are aware that if people in the wider community and different clubs "do step up," the league can be kept going.
An urgent meeting has been requested by the clubs with representatives of the Scarborough Minor League and the North Riding FA, scheduled for Tuesday, 27th May. This leaves limited time before the deadline for applying for entry into the York League.
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