EBFA History of
the Alliance (League) 2022-23
East Berks Junior 7-a-side
Association
In the summer of 1992 our national football squad had performed abysmally. The
FA and the press called for a drastic review of coaching strategies for
youngsters if England was to produce stars of the future. Following this debate
letters were sent out to all clubs in the Bracknell area inviting them to take
part in a 7-a-side league. Eight teams at the under 8 level joined for the
1992/93 season.
Once managers, players and parents had
sampled this break from tradition, the virtues of the small-sided game were
clear to see, and the development of the East Berks Junior 7-a-side Association
was swift.
In 1993 the under 9s were included and
1994 saw the introduction of under 7s. By 1995 there were enough teams for two
divisions of under 9s, and by 1996 the under 8s also had two divisions, and the
under 10s was formed. 1997 saw the formation of the under 11s, and 1998 saw the
introduction of the under 12s playing 9-a-side football as part of the East
Berks fixture programme.
East Berk Junior League (EBJL)
/ East Berks Youth Football League (EBYFL)
In 2004 the Association will became the
East Berk Junior League in preparation for the 2006 Merger with the East Berks
Intermediate League into East Berks Youth Football League, with Junior, and
Intermediate Sections, offering football from U7s up to U18s.
2008 also saw the launch of the 1st
East Berks Girls Junior section at U10s with 7 teams completing for League and
Cup honours.
In the Summer of 2009 East Berks
Youth Football League (EBYFL) was the first league in the County to be awarded
the status of FA Charter Standard League. In early 2010 East Berks Youth
Football League (EBYFL) held its first ever FA Charter Standard League Training
and Development Day which was attended by over 150 coaches and was judged a huge
success.
At the end of the 2009-2010 season
East Berks Youth Football League (EBYFL) was awarded the national FA Respect and
Fair Play Award which was presented at the FA Cup Final by HRH Prince William.
At the start of the 2012/13 season
the league introduces 5v5 format for U7s and 9v9 format for U11 and U12 age
groups
East Berks Football Alliance
(EBFA).
2013/14 season sees 5v5 format
extended to U8s, the introduction of U21 11v11 format playing on a Sunday
afternoon and renaming of East Berks Youth Football League (EBYFL) to East Berks
Football Alliance (EBFA).
From eight clubs, to a League in
2022 which will sees in January 2023, 923 teams and provides a football environment for over
12,400+ boys and girls, a true success story, where football in the community is
definitely the winner.
