Last updated : Tuesday, 04 March 2025
The Peter Houseman Youth League stands as a cornerstone of youth football development across Hampshire and Berkshire. With over 200 teams participating, this volunteer-run organization provides competitive and non-competitive playing opportunities for children from Under 7s through to Under 18s age groups.
The league's dedicated team of volunteers works tirelessly to create positive football experiences for thousands of young players each season. Their commitment ensures that children across the region have access to organized football in a supportive environment that emphasizes both skill development and enjoyment of the game.
Founded in memory of former Chelsea and Oxford United footballer Peter Houseman, the league continues his legacy by fostering grassroots football. It operates various divisions including Premier Divisions at different age levels, giving young players the structure they need to develop while enjoying the beautiful game in their local communities.
History
The Peter Houseman Youth League was founded in memory of Chelsea FC footballer Peter Houseman, who tragically died in a car accident on March 20, 1977, at the age of 31. Houseman was a talented winger who made significant contributions to Chelsea during his career.
The league was established to honor Houseman's legacy and commitment to youth football development. Before his untimely death, Houseman had already demonstrated his dedication to grassroots football by founding Oakley Football Club in 1967 after moving to the village of Oakley.
As a respected Chelsea player who was part of their FA Cup winning side, Houseman's connection to youth football became the foundation for the league that now bears his name. His vision was to create opportunities for young players to develop their skills in a structured competitive environment.
The league has grown significantly since its inception, now featuring multiple age groups and divisions across youth football in the region. Teams like MFC Popley participate regularly in the competition structure.
Over the decades, the Peter Houseman Youth League has maintained its commitment to the development of young footballers while preserving the memory of the Chelsea winger whose passion for the game extended beyond his professional career and into community football.
Age Groups and Divisions
The Peter Houseman Youth League offers competitive football across multiple age groups ranging from U7 to U18. The league structure accommodates young players at various developmental stages, providing appropriate competition levels for each age category.
Age groups in the league include U7, U8, U9, U10, U11, U12, U13, U14, U15, U16, and U18. This progressive structure allows players to develop their skills against peers of similar age and ability.
For older age groups like U15, U16, and U18, the league features a tiered divisional structure that includes Premier Division, Division One, Division Two, and Division Three. This organization ensures teams compete against opponents of comparable skill levels.
Younger age groups such as U11 have specific divisions like "U11 - Yellow" to organize competitions appropriately. The U12 age group includes Division Three among its competitive tiers.
Match formats are tailored to each age group's developmental needs. For instance, games for ages U7 to U10 can be played in either quarters or halves, providing flexibility based on the players' stamina and attention spans.
Teams from various clubs participate in their respective age groups and divisions throughout the season, with fixtures arranged accordingly. This structured approach helps foster player development while maintaining competitive balance across all levels of youth football.
Committee/Staff/Contacts
The Peter Houseman Youth League (PHYL) is managed by a dedicated committee that oversees all league operations. The committee includes several key positions responsible for different aspects of league management.
The PHYL Committee features division secretaries who can be accessed through the league's login system. These individuals handle specific age groups and divisions within the youth football structure.
Mike Thomas and David Watton serve on the Youth Committee, bringing their expertise to the organization's governance. John McBryde represents North Hants within the league structure.
For club-specific contacts, team managers like Dan Ford (Tadley Calleva Black/Gold) can be reached via email at dwcford@hotmail.co.uk. This information is essential for inter-team communication.
The league maintains comprehensive contact details for all affiliated clubs and teams. Home teams are required to contact their opponents by Wednesday at 8pm with match details, highlighting the importance of keeping contact information current.
The PHYL website contains a directory of all league contacts, club contacts, rules of play, and necessary league forms. This centralized information system helps maintain effective communication throughout the league structure.
Teams
The Peter Houseman Youth League features over 200 teams competing across Hampshire and Berkshire. Teams are organized in age groups ranging from Under 7s to Under 18s.
The league accommodates various skill levels with different divisions. For example, the U17 Premier Division represents one of the competitive tiers for older youth players.
In the Under 11 category, participating teams include Baltic Youth FC, Down Grange U11 Renegades, Hatch Warren U11 Flames, Hook United Youth U11 Blues, and Loddon Sports U11.
The Under 14 division features teams such as Whitchurch United Youth U14 Red, Winklebury Wizards Youth U14 Blue, and Hatch Warren Phoenix Youth U14 Ember.
For the older age brackets, the U18 division includes notable teams like Oakley Youth U18 Lions and Purley Jubilee U18 Reds. Fleet Town Colts Youth U17 Lions also competes at the upper age levels.
Team standings are maintained throughout the season based on matches played, wins, draws, losses, and total points. For instance, in one recent season, Oakley Youth U18 Lions led their division with 45 points from 16 matches.
The league structure includes both competitive and non-competitive formats, appropriately designed for different age groups to support youth development.
Players
The Peter Houseman Youth League provides competitive opportunities for young footballers across Hampshire and Berkshire. Players range from Under 7s to Under 18s, developing their skills in a structured environment.
Each age group features talented youth players competing for various clubs. Teams like Brighton Hill U12 Lions, Darby Green and Potley Youth U12 Dragon, and Hatch Warren U12 Thunder showcase promising talent in their respective divisions.
Players participate in both competitive and non-competitive formats depending on their age group. The youngest participants focus primarily on skill development and enjoyment, while older age groups engage in more structured competition.
The league serves over 200 teams, meaning thousands of young players benefit from regular match experience. This extensive participation demonstrates the league's important role in youth football development in the region.
Each player's journey through the age groups helps build technical abilities, tactical understanding, and teamwork skills. The league structure allows players to progress at appropriate levels throughout their youth development.
Player safety and respect are paramount, with the league promoting positive sporting values alongside competitive play. These values help young athletes develop not only as footballers but as individuals.
