Club History
Birstall United Juniors Football Club was the brainchild of Jeff and Sandra
Plumb.
The club was formed in 1976 and was managed from the lounge of Jeff and Sandra’s
house.
We first started playing competitive football in the under 11’s league of
Leicestershire and Rutland Football Association.
Within the first couple of years Jeff steered the county football association
into developing an under 10’s league. In those days the football was eleven a
side.
Over the years Birstall has seen many boys go through the football club.
We have developed boys of all ability priding ourselves on providing football
for the community of Birstall and surrounding villages. As the club grew as did
our reputation within local football and within Europe. We have competed in
Holland, France and Belgium and to this day, still have strong ties with Etoile
of Lille in France and Rixensaart in Belgium.
Many of the boys have grown up and gone on to play at top level football and
even to the professional game with the likes of Scott and Stef Oakes and Matthew
Piper, all of which went on to play for Leicester City.
Over the years the club expanded to running teams from the age of 11 up to the
age of 18. With the start of mini soccer recently we have developed to running
even more teams now starting at under 7’s.
With teams then the need for ground space to play and train. In partnership with
Birstall Parish Council we obtained ground to the bottom of Meadow
Lane/Worcester Avenue. This was then ploughed and seeded to make the facility of
one large pitch and a small pitch. Recently we have obtained what was known as
the Archery field and clubhouse. This is now the home to many teams training.
Back in 1977 we ran our first International Football tournament and have
every year since. We have entertained teams from Germany, Scotland, France and
America just to name a few countries.
In December of 2004 we were awarded the FA Charter Mark. This is the Football
Association’s recognition of a football club that is both managed and run
professionally with the aim of providing a safe environment for children to
learn and develop their football skills.
In 2005, in conjunction with the County Football Association Cathy and Dave
Scragg began the initiative to encourage the participation of girls within the
Club.
This began with running after school coaching sessions in the local schools
and culminated in the School - Club Festival in July 2005.
Further development of the girls section saw 2 teams compete in the 2006/07
season at Under 10 and Under 12 level for the first time.
Cathy and Dave have since emigrated to Australia but the girls section
continues to develop under new management.
The Club continues to grow and in the 2007/08 season has 21 teams competing
in Leagues throughout the County and an ever increasing of new talent being
developed in the Soccer School.
