As I am sure you are all aware there have been considerable movement during the late spring and early summer of clubs/teams that have joined us and clubs that have left us. There are 3 new clubs and 6 new teams. Moortown have merged with Collingham Juniors and Colton Academicals and Colton Juniors have joined forces to make one very strong club. Nevertheless we lost 4 sides during the season –a higher than usual figure. We have lost the 3 Wortley teams because of their failing to attain the disciplinary standards expected. Two teams, Wheelwright Res from Div 4 and Leeds Independent side from Div 1, have also had resign from their league but this does highlight the fragility of running a football.
I consider that we are a well managed league and it is exciting that one club is already talking about entering a second team in season 11/12 and we have had requests from two well established clubs outside our league to join us that were too late to be processed.
Thus there is one clear point to make regarding existing clubs. Firstly it is much easier to administer a club with two teams or more, providing the club management structure is strong. There are instances when it is necessary to lose a team in the short term when struggling to get three or four sides out but, providing there is a clear strategy in place at the club as to how to rebuild or consolidate, then the club should continue to thrive.
Furthermore, the framework for any club these days, if they are to remain strong, must be to have a steady influx of new players. In a few instances the players do come from existing schools or, as in the case of Medics, from the student in-take. The other source is from the connection with Junior clubs and this does afford the greatest scope for recruitment. Indeed more and more clubs turn to that source for their latest recruits. This is particularly welcome by the U/17 and U/18 players as we now provide a natural home for these players. I must say that we as a league are proud to welcome them. Bramley Juniors IVths is a superb example of a new club that has joined us with the U/17 and U/18 Junior teams forming a new side. Leeds City III will also have a strong junior contingent. Thus we feel that a new team from any club will be more than welcome and it is fair to say that the most successful new teams from within YOBL are the ones that have had a season of friendlies before they start but that is not always practical and the statement is a generalisation.
Now for the crunch and the way new teams clubs should approach us. The deadline date for joining the league is the 30th April. We have waived that rule this season but it is for practical reasons more than anything else that we choose that date. Ideally we like to meet officials of any new club and at the same time lime have a look at their facilities with the changing facilities, the ground itself and the proximity to the changing facilities being very much the starting point. The copy proforma shown below should be a great help and any team applying from outside our current clubs should send this form, completed as comprehensively as possible, to our League Secretary Ray Collier at:raymond981collier@btinternet.com
1 Club Applying
2 Date of Formation
3 Reason for formation
4 Current League
Division
Any comment
5 Brief History
6 Committee Name Time in Post
Chairman
Secretary
Treasurer
Ist XI Manager
7 Frequency of Committee Meetings
8 Home Pitch
9 Changing Facilities
10 Base
11 Hospitality Facility
12 FINANCE (income)
Funds at Bank
Sponsorship
Player Subs Annual Match
13 FINANCE (Expenditure)
Cost of Pitches
Insurance
Kit - players
Kit - pitch
14 Number of players
15 Typical player profile
16 Disciplinary Record
17 Evidence of Code of Conduct
18 Technical Capacity
19 How are player records kept?
20 Yorkshire Shield Entry?
Feedback Given
Observations for Committee
Recommendation
The Board Room 
