The DUNOON YOUTH FOOTBALL LEAGUE was founded in 1981 by an ex-policeman, named Les Wilson, who has sadly since died. It was through his vision and dedication and also that of his wife, that the club thrives to this day, and to whom we are very grateful. As a memorial the new Clubhouse, within the grounds of the stadium, was named after him. His son and grandson are still actively involved in the club today.
A committee, comprising adult members of the club, is elected to organise the affairs of the club and all adult members have the opportunity to have their say at the Annual General Meeting, held in November. (see our constitution on next page).
The purpose of the club is to give children between 5 yrs and 16 yrs of age the chance to play and enjoy football, and to improve no matter what standard they play at. We have a current membership of nearly 250 children.
All the players, both girls and boys, are organised into small sided teams and play every Saturday mornings during the season. These games are normally played as seven a-side fun matches for the youngsters . The club also enters eleven a-side teams, for our more promising players, at a variety of age groups from 11 years and up, in local district leagues, and some of our past members have gone on to sign for professional teams.
DYFL boys who have signed for senior clubs.
Robbie McKillop - Morton
Calum Hill - Ross County
Dougie Neil - Saint Mirren
Davie McGregor - Morton
Stuart McIntyre - Hearts
Paul Hughes - Morton and Scotland Youth Cap
Other Dunoon boys who have signed pro in the past:
Alec Downie, b 1876 Dunoon, d Manchester 9.12.1953, Glasgow Perthshire, Manchester Utd player 1902-10.
Neil McFarlane (now at Hearts),
Andy Galloway,
Gavin Galloway,
Stuart Houston (former manager of Arsenal).
If you know of any more let me know!
Schools' football is not seen as a priority in our area and the D.Y.F.L is, for many, the only opportunity our kids have to play the 'beautiful game'.
We also have a gala day and an indoor tournament each year.
Coaching sessions play a vital part in the children's football education . The club has put many members through coaching courses organised by the Scottish Football Association.
Parents are expected to assist with various tasks such as managing teams or running the Tuckshop!
The club is divided into different sections as follows:
Nursery and Senior.
The Nursery League play indoors at Dunoon Grammar School on Saturday mornings starting at 9a.m..
The Senior boys and girls play together outdoors at Dunoon Stadium and are divided into these sections:
Under 10, Under 12,Under 14 and Under 16.
These Sections play as follows:
Under 10's at 9.15am.
Under 12's at 9.15am.
Under 14's at 10.15am.
Under 16's on
Friday nights on all weather parks.
WE USE THE OFFICIAL SCOTTISH FOOTBALL LEAGUE GUIDELINES.
THE SCOTTISH FOOTBALL LEAGUE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE
OBJECTIVES
1.The ethos of the Youth Development Initiative is to establish a structure for the best young players in Scotland at Under-13, Under-14 and Under-16 levels.
2.To provide a series of "matches" at these levels between senior clubs in Scotland participating in this Youth Development Initiative.
3.The "matches" would be non-competitive as there is:-
A: No recording of results.
B: There are no League Tables.
C: There are no medals or trophies awarded.
D: No requirement for the matches to be played over 90 minutes.
E: Flexibility to allow matches to have "time-outs" in order to enable coaches to offer advice, tuition and encouragement on what has been taking place during the course of the "match".
F: No requirement for the "matches" to be eleven-a-side.
G: Flexibility to enable clubs to interchange players during a "match", if a club is say for example, four or five goals ahead. The reason for this flexibility being an attempt to try and balance-up the sides.
4. To control, limit and hopefully, reduce the number of competitive matches played by the best young players in Scotland at Under-13, Under-14, Under-15 and Under-16 levels.
5. To establish a series of "matches" which permits flexibility in the "fixtures" and in particular, avoid clashes with SFA International and Scottish Schoolboy Association representative commitments.
6. Therefore, these players should only in theory, play competitive football for their school team and where selected, school representative sides and international teams at both Scottish Schoolboy Association and Scottish Football Association level. (As schools football is not a priority in our area, we do enter teams in minor leagues).
7. The senior club would therefore act as the youth club team for boys at these age levels. In other words, a boy would not in principle, be simultaneously playing for a minor grade club in membership of for example, the Association of Scottish Youth Football Clubs.
8. The "match day" would not only involve the playing of a "match", but include the following:-
A: Coaching sessions involving both clubs.
B: Tuition and advice about the numerous aspects connected with becoming a professional footballer, e.g. Laws of the Game, Fitness, Diet and Nutrition, Drug Awareness, Media Training, etc, etc.
C: A light lunch involving both clubs to enable the boys of both clubs an opportunity to discuss various aspects of football in general.
9. Players participating in the Youth Development Initiative would therefore have access to the best coaches and training facilities in the country.
10. The overall ethos of the Youth Development Initiative is therefore to:-
A: Establish a properly co-ordinated structure for the best young players in Scotland.
B: Limit the number of competitive matches played by these players and therefore avoid the "burn-out" syndrome experienced by many young players in the past, whereby players have suffered persistent niggling injuries at an early age and their bodies have not had sufficient time to recover resulting in many players being forced into retirement at an early age.
C: A better standard of facilities and pitches used thereby providing a different type of environment for young players to develop.
D: Provide a platform for clubs to educate players with regard to the importance of learning about the many facets of the game as opposed to the "winning at all costs" mentality.
E: Enable clubs a greater amount of time to spend with young players and
thereby give clubs a greater platform to be in control of the development of a
young player’s technique and skill factor and therefore give young players an
opportunity to have a greater understanding, awareness and intelligence of the
game (and indeed, on life in general).
SEASON.
The outdoor
leagues will run from September to December, will resume
after Christmas and will break up in June.
The league will run coaching sessions every evening at 7.00 or 6.00p.m.
During football activities shin guards and appropriate footwear must be worn.
In order to play you must be a member of the club and pay the appropriate Registration Fee of £10.00.
Each week the children also pay £1.50 per session.
You will, I am sure, appreciate the considerable costs involved in providing strips and equipment, hiring the stadium, insurance, obtaining coaching certificates and providing transport for special events. If you can assist us in anyway we would be most appreciative.
RECENT ROLL OF HONOUR
2000 GLENVALE TROPHY- RUNNERS UP -1986'S
2001 LOMOND CUP - WINNERS - 1988'S
2001-2002 GREENOCK AND DISTRICT - LEAGUE RUNNERS UP - 1988'S
2002 LEVEN VALE TOURNAMENT-SEMI FINALISTS - 1991'S
2002 GLENLUSSET TOURNAMENT - RUNNERS UP - 1990'S
2002-2003 GREENOCK AND DISTRICT - LEAGUE RUNNERS UP - 1990'S
2002-2003 GREENOCK AND DISTRICT - CUP RUNNERS UP - 1990'S
2003 INVERCLYDE TOURNAMENT-WINNERS - 1990'S
2003 LOCH LOMOND FESTIVAL-RUNNERS UP - 1990'S
2004 HOLLAND EASTER CLASSIC - THIRD PLACE 1990'S
2004 SYCA SUMMER CUP - RUNNERS UP - 1991'S
2004 SYCA FAIR PLAY AWARD WINNERS - 1992'S
2005 BLACKPOOL TOURNAMENT WINNERS - 1990'S
2005 GLASGOW CITY PLATE WINNERS - 1991'S
2006 CAMBUSLANG TOURNAMENT WINNERS - 1991'S
