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History of the League

  • 13/04/14
  • By David Winterburn
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Y & R MSF League

The York Mitchell Sports Football League and The Ryedale Junior Football league were both formed in 1979 before amalgamating in 2013.

THE YORK MITCHELL SPORTS FOOTBALL LEAGUE
During 1976 Guy Mitchell of proprietor of York Mitchell Sports started to sponsor local friendly fixtures. This continued until 1979 when a formal league was born with Dave Wilson (now Minor League Secretary) administering it. The first League Champions were Stamford Bridge, and Clifton United won the first League Cup the following season. The now-defunct Redfearn National Glass achieved the first League and Cup double in 1980/81 season.

Numerous great sides graced the league over the following seasons: Osbaldwick were Champions 3 years in succession from 83/84 season, and the all-conquering Heworth side were unbeaten in all League, Cup and small sided competitions during 1998/99 season under the management of John Flint, who became the League Chairman the following season.

Huntington were the first division 2 champions in 1996/97 season and the first Division 3 champions during 1999/2000 season.
The League peaked the following season with 36 teams. However something had to give and 3 were lost before the start due to several teams being based between the Knavesmire and Poppleton.

Dave Wilson stepped down as League Secretary in 1985, Dave Purdy and Keith Stimpson followed, then Phil Sanderson of Hamilton Panthers took the reins in 1993, raising the high standard of the League’s administration, which has continued ever since.

Phil stepped down as Secretary in 1998 as his club Management had almost become a full time job with Hamilton Panthers boasting 2 teams at every age group. However Phil’s retirement as Secretary was not made easy when Barry Casterton was asked by the Committee to run the League. The new team of Barry John and Brian Tomlinson as fixtures Secretary have continued to date to maintain high standards achieved in the past.

THE RYEDALE JUNIOR FOOTBALL LEAGUE
The Ryedale Junior Football League has been in operation since 1979 and is for clubs in the Ryedale and York areas. Originally there were 3 age groups U11 U13 & U15 with their own divisions of between 8 and 15 teams. In the early days there were about 30 clubs from Malton, Pickering, Helmsley and the east side of what is now York (then Ryedale)

Most of the clubs had teams in all the age groups with Divisions of between 8 & 15 teams.
Lads (no girls allowed then) generally played for one club right through the age groups - very few transfers! The age groups meant they played for one team for 2 years & then moved up to the next age group.

Eventually the League became Under 11s only and gradually, all the York teams joined. This league is the starting place for 11-a-side games.

YORK & RYEDALE MITCHELL SPORTS FOOTBALL LEAGUE
In 2012 Barry Casterton became Chairman, John Flint moved to Vice President and Brian Drew took the rains as Secretary, one Year later Barry and Brian as Chairman and Secretary of both the Ryedale and Mitchell Leagues were the instigators of combining both Leagues during the summer of 2013 in the format as they are today, The York & Ryedale Mitchell Sports Football League.