Last updated : Tuesday, 04 March 2025
The North Wilts Youth Football League (NWYFL) serves as a cornerstone for youth football development in the Swindon and Wiltshire area. Chaired by Craig Gorton and supported by a dedicated committee, the league organizes competitive matches and tournaments for various age groups throughout the season. The NWYFL offers structured competition across multiple divisions, providing young players with valuable opportunities to develop their skills and passion for the game.
For the upcoming summer, the league has already scheduled its popular tournament for June 28th and 29th, 2025. The event will feature Under 7s and Under 11s competing in the morning of the first day, followed by Under 9s and Under 13s from 2pm onward. This well-organized competition represents just one of the many ways the NWYFL fosters youth football in the region.
The league maintains clear disciplinary procedures and competition rules, recently updating its guidelines for the 2024-25 season. Coaches and team officials can easily access these regulations through the league's official channels, ensuring fair play and proper administration across all age groups and divisions.
History
The North Wilts Youth Football League (NWYFL) has established itself as a significant youth football organization in Wiltshire, primarily centered around the Swindon area. The league provides competitive football opportunities for young players across various age groups.
Currently, the NWYFL is chaired by Craig Gorton, who works alongside a dedicated committee to organize league fixtures and cup competitions throughout the season. This leadership team manages the operational aspects of the league, ensuring smooth running of matches and tournaments.
The league structure includes different divisions categorized by age groups, with teams like FC Abbey Meads Youth Grey, Swindon Supermarine Red, Stratton Juniors Blaze, and FC Chippenham Youth Warriors participating in competitive matches. These clubs represent various communities within North Wiltshire.
One of the highlights of the NWYFL calendar is the organization of Cup Finals, which provide young players with memorable tournament experiences. These events showcase the development and talent of youth football in the region.
While specific founding dates aren't detailed in the available information, the league has clearly developed into a well-structured organization that plays an important role in grassroots football development in North Wiltshire. The league continues to promote youth football in the region through organized competition and development opportunities.
Age Groups and Divisions
The North Wilts Youth Football League offers competitive football opportunities across multiple age groups, ranging from the youngest players to teenagers approaching adulthood. The league structure accommodates youth players from Under-7s (U7) through to Under-18s (U18).
For the youngest participants, the league organizes development divisions. The U7 age group features three development divisions: Red, Blue, and Green. This structure provides an appropriate introduction to organized football for children beginning their sporting journey.
As players progress through the age groups, the competitive structure becomes more formalized. The league includes divisions for U8, U9, U10, U11, U12, U13, U14, U15, U16, and U18 teams.
The U8 age group includes specific girls' teams, highlighting the league's commitment to providing football opportunities for all young players regardless of gender. Recent expansions have included dedicated girls' weekends during tournament play.
Match durations are age-appropriate, with games for U14 and below featuring halves of at least 20 minutes each. For older age groups (U15-U18), matches consist of halves lasting a minimum of 25 minutes each.
The league's cup competitions follow similar age groupings, providing additional competitive opportunities beyond regular league play. These various divisions and age groups ensure all youth players can participate at an appropriate level for their development.
Committee/Staff/Contacts
The North Wilts Youth Football League (NWYFL) is chaired by Craig Gorton, who leads the organization with support from a dedicated committee. The committee oversees league operations, cup finals, and other administrative responsibilities.
Contact information for the league and its member clubs is currently under review to ensure appropriate data management on public platforms. During this interim period, team contact details have been temporarily removed from the league's website.
For urgent matters related to the league, interested parties can connect with the organization through their official channels. The league maintains a presence on Facebook as "North Wilts League" and is based in Swindon, Wiltshire.
Club officials, coaches, and referees involved with the league have access to administrative tools to manage their day-to-day activities. This allows for efficient communication and organization of fixtures and other league matters.
For youth football inquiries in the broader Wiltshire region, the Wiltshire FA can be contacted. They oversee various youth leagues including the North Wilts Youth Football League (NWFL), Mid Wilts Youth & Minor League (MWFL), and South Wilts Mini Soccer League.
Additional support for the North Wilts region can be reached at 07341 711966, as indicated in Wiltshire FA documentation.
Teams
The North Wilts Youth Football League features numerous youth football clubs from the Swindon and Wiltshire area. Among these teams are Blunsdon Youth FC, Calne Town Youth FC Harriers, and Fairford Youth Galaxy, each representing their local communities.
FC Abbey Meads has multiple teams in the league, including FC Abbey Meads Purple and FC Abbey Meads Youth Grey. This demonstrates how larger clubs often field several squads across different age groups or divisions.
Other notable teams include:
- Ferndale Rodbourne Raptors
- Football For All Youth
- Highworth Town Juniors
- AFC Newbury
- FC Chippenham Youth Warriors
- Robins Red
- Stratton Juniors Blaze
- Swindon Supermarine Red
The league organizes competitions for various age groups, with tournaments featuring Under 7s, Under 9s, Under 11s, and Under 13s. These tournaments typically take place in June, showcasing the development pathway for young players.
Each team is managed by dedicated volunteers who help develop youth football talent across the North Wilts region. The combination of urban and rural clubs creates a diverse competitive environment for young players.
The league committee, chaired by Craig Gorton, oversees all team registrations and coordinates matches between these various clubs throughout the season.
Players
The North Wilts Youth Football League (NWYFL) offers competitive football opportunities for youth players across various age groups. Teams in the league actively recruit throughout the season to maintain squad strength.
According to recent information, Highworth Town Juniors U10T team is currently seeking 2-3 additional players for next season as they transition to 9-a-side football. They prefer candidates with previous playing experience.
FC Chippenham Youth Under 16s are also looking to expand their roster. They compete in North Wilts Division 2, with matches played on Sundays and training sessions held at Stanley Park.
Player development remains a core focus of the league, with teams organized from younger age groups playing smaller-sided games through to older youth playing full 11-a-side matches.
The NWYFL structure allows players to progress through age groups with consistent competition against teams from Swindon, Chippenham, and surrounding areas in Wiltshire.
Registration typically occurs before each season, though some teams accept mid-season transfers depending on roster availability and league rules.
