Last updated : Tuesday, 04 March 2025
The Central Lancashire Junior Football League (CLJFL) serves as a cornerstone for youth football development across the Lancashire region. Operating primarily on Sundays, the league provides structured competition for various age groups, including Under-11 teams like the Falcons who recently competed on March 2, 2025. The league combines competitive matches with dedicated training sessions, offering young players valuable opportunities to develop their skills and passion for the sport.
For parents looking to involve their children in organized football, CLJFL offers more than just weekend matches. Teams like those at Bishop Rawstorne in Croston conduct weekly training sessions, with Monday evening practices from 6-7pm on their 3G pitch. This commitment to regular skill development highlights the league's focus on player improvement alongside match experience.
The CLJFL maintains an active community presence through social media channels, where they share updates about fixtures, results, and club activities. With dedicated Facebook and Twitter accounts using the hashtag #CLJFL, the league creates a connected football community that extends beyond the pitch, keeping parents, players and supporters informed about all aspects of youth football in Central Lancashire.
History
The Central Lancashire Junior Football League (CLJFL) was established in 1977, with its inaugural season taking place in 1978-1979. The league began with specific age divisions at Under-13s and Under-14s.
Since its founding, the CLJFL has grown significantly in both size and prominence within the regional youth football community. The league has maintained consistent development over its multi-decade existence.
The organization has a structured competitive format that includes both league competitions and cup tournaments. These competitions are organized by age groups, with notable divisions including Under-15 and Under-16 categories.
Throughout its history, the CLJFL has recognized achievement through various honors. These include:
- League Winners (by age division)
- Cup Winners (by age division)
The league continues to serve as an important platform for youth football development in the Central Lancashire region. Its longevity demonstrates its success in providing organized competitive opportunities for young players.
The CLJFL maintains historical records of past champions and achievements, preserving the legacy of youth football in the area. This history helps connect current participants with the league's traditions.
By 2025, the league has established itself as a fixture in the local sporting community, helping develop countless young footballers over nearly five decades.
Age Groups and Divisions
The Central Lancashire Junior Football League organizes youth football across multiple age categories from U11 through U16. Each age group is further divided into various divisions to ensure competitive balance among teams.
For the U11 category, the league operates six divisions: Falcons, Eagles, Kestrels, Hawks, Ospreys, and Harriers. This structure allows for appropriate competition levels among players just entering organized football.
The U12 age group includes a Premier division along with additional competitive tiers. This progression helps developing players find the right competitive environment as they advance their skills.
U13, U14, U15, and U16 categories form the remainder of the league structure. These age groups represent the historical foundation of the league, which initially began with divisions at these levels.
When the league first formed, St. Gregory's claimed the U15 championship while Leyland Labour Club dominated with victories in both the U13 and U14 divisions.
The league carefully structures age eligibility requirements to ensure fair competition. All divisions follow standardized football formats appropriate for each developmental stage, allowing young players to progress naturally through increasingly complex versions of the game.
Teams compete within their designated age groups throughout the season, with standings tracked for each division separately.
Committee/Staff/Contacts
The Central Lancashire Junior Football League (CLJFL) is managed by a dedicated committee of volunteers who oversee various aspects of league operations. The committee structure includes several key positions responsible for the smooth running of youth football in the region.
The Treasurer also serves as the 9v9 Fixtures Secretary and can be contacted at treasurer@cljfl.co.uk for financial matters and fixture arrangements for the 9v9 format games.
For matters related to match officials, the league has both a Referee Secretary and an Assistant Referee Secretary. Both can be reached at referee@cljfl.co.uk for any queries about referees or officiating.
While specific committee member names aren't listed in the available information, the organization maintains active communication channels including social media presence. The league can be found on Twitter (X) under the handle @JnrLancs where they share updates about competitions and announcements.
The CLJFL works alongside other football organizations in Lancashire, including the Lancashire FA which provides broader governance and support for football across the county.
For clubs interested in joining the league or seeking more information about specific roles, direct contact through the provided email addresses is recommended. The committee members work diligently to organize competitions for youth teams throughout Central Lancashire.
Teams
The Central Lancashire Junior Football League boasts a diverse array of youth football teams spanning multiple age groups. Established in 1972, the league has grown significantly and now includes over 200 member clubs across the region.
The league organizes competitions for teams from under-7s through to under-18s, providing structured football development opportunities for children and teenagers of various skill levels.
Among the notable U11 teams in the league are Charnock Richard Junior U11 Black, Euxton Villa U11 Orange, Euxton Villa U11 White, Gregson Lane J.F.C. U11 Black, and Leyland Pirates Football Club U11 White.
In the U12 category, participating teams include A.C. Preston U12, Bamber Bridge United U12, Brinscall Village JFC U12 Red, Euxton Villa U12 Black, Longridge Town Junior U12 Whites, and Lostock Hall Juniors U12.
Other prominent clubs in the league include:
- Cadley FC
- Penwortham Town Football Club
- Longridge Town Juniors
- Penwortham St Teresa's FC
- Leyland Pirates FC
- Myerscough JFDC
The league strives to provide high-quality competition platforms for youth development, emphasizing both skill building and sportsmanship values across all age groups and divisions.
Players
The Central Lancashire Junior Football League (CLJFL) provides competitive football opportunities for young players across the region. Players typically range from under-7s to under-16s age groups, developing their skills in a structured environment.
Registration for players usually occurs before each season begins, with strict eligibility requirements regarding age and residency within the catchment area. Each team must submit player registration forms to league officials by specified deadlines.
Player development is a key focus of the CLJFL, with emphasis placed on technical skills, teamwork, and sportsmanship rather than just winning matches. Coaches are encouraged to give all registered players appropriate playing time throughout the season.
The league follows FA guidelines on player safety, including concussion protocols and proper equipment requirements. Players must wear shin guards and appropriate footwear for all matches and training sessions.
Talented players from the CLJFL often progress to academy systems at professional clubs such as Preston North End, Blackburn Rovers, and Burnley FC. Many former CLJFL participants have gone on to careers in semi-professional and professional football.
Transfer regulations exist within the league to maintain competitive balance. Players wishing to change teams during the season must follow formal procedures and obtain clearance from league administrators.
The CLJFL also recognizes individual achievement through player awards at season-end ceremonies, celebrating top goalscorers, most improved players, and those demonstrating exceptional sportsmanship.
