Little League Football - A Parent's View

Our education system shows no enthusiasm for competitive sports. It witters a lot and does precious little. Media hysteria about our children's safety doesn't help. Trying to find something (indeed anything) my kids can get stuck into has been a real pain.

So letting my mob loose in Cheam Recreation Ground to play football has been an eye-opener of biblical proportions. Organised by real volunteers, West Sutton's Little League (WSLL) founded in 1974, offers five levels of play for boys and girls, from seven to thirteen years old.

Every Saturday morning from 9:30 onward, the Park is alive with whistles; supportive parents; determined children; barking dogs; cheers; boos and real excitement. The sound of stud on tarmac around the excellent Pavilion Café where you'll get steaming mugs of tea, generous hotdogs and bacon butties is an emotional experience worth getting up for.

Covering eight pitches with three games per pitch, WSLL is a miracle of volunteer grit and optimism. Each year, Chairman Keith Rattle and his crew persuade parents to act as managers; coaches and referees to thirty teams. This is truly, one of life's mysteries and for three hours, football reigns supreme. But unlike those TV documentaries with overbearing parents living out their dreams through their children and the disappointed acting out refereeing fantasies - WSL Leaguers are very normal.

Secretary Peter Randall explains, "We're not into all that angst. The kids turn up with their talent for enthusiasm and the parents, with their talent for being supportive - and that's it. The rest comes naturally".

Mixing friendly games with Challenge Matches work really well. Exercise and the chance to play for proper Trophies - can't be bad. Frankly, I'm really surprised there isn't a waiting list, but WSLL are always looking for more children.

My mob now indulge their passion for a sport they love; talk about all week and can get stuck into with real pleasure, which is great - even it does mean being a touchline Dad every Saturday - come rain; wind; mud; mugs of tea and bacon butties...

Contributions are voluntary. As Keith Rattle concludes "It's not about money, never has been - all we want is for local kids to enjoy their football. It's as simple as that."

For my money, with the season running from September to March, it's the best free entertainment I've ever come across.

There are about three dozen local Little Leagues in Britain - some larger, some smaller. But they all offer the chance for children of any ability to enjoy football and they all work on the basis that playing for pleasure is more important than winning at all costs.

Many of these local Leagues are shown on our Leagues Page - please get in touch if you would like to know more.