Future looks bright for ambitious Lye Town
Grassroots football is booming at Lye Town Football Club with a Respect and Fair Play campaign helping influence the players of tomorrow.
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The club's first-team are jointly managed by Martin Thomas and Darren Goodall and feature in the Midland League Premier Division.
They also boast a thriving junior section and committee members are hoping the set-up can stand head and shoulders above their rivals.
There is an under-18s Midland Junior Premier League outfit and sides filtering down from under-16s to under-7s.
And it is with the younger stars, some of whom play at King George VI Park in Kingswinford, that Lye chiefs aim to create a bright future.
Simon Westwood, from Brierley Hill, oversees the under-8s and, after impressing at the helm, was handed the reigns with next season's under-15s group.
They feature in the Midland Junior Premier League Development. Westwood, a teaching assistant, said: "There are a lot of good things happening at Lye.
"We just want to get it out there what we are doing, regarding grassroots football. We want youngsters to come and play for us and see what we're about.
"It's not just winning football matches and style of football, we see the Respect campaign as something very important.
"Our junior section has been running four years now. We have got FA Standard Chartered status and our idea is to promote from within and make everyone feel part of the club."
To hand their Respect campaign a boost, an un-competitive round robin tournament was held,.
Lye invited three other local under-7 sides – Gornal Athletic, Bilbrook West and Kewford Eagles West – for a feast of football.
The club also held Respect workshops for parents as well as players, through the Stourbridge Youth League, where league welfare and Respect officer Martin Holliday came along to pass on ideas.
Westwood added: "We want to give something back to football in the area and promote respect within football.
"The workshop helped educate players, parents, coaches and the management on how to behave. The round robin went really, really well.
"The kids play un-competitive matches at that age and all of them finished the day with a medal and Respect armbands.
"Thank you to the parents because it wouldn't have been possible without them. We thought up the idea off our own backs and put it together in three weeks.
"We're doing it for the good of the community and to put Lye Town Football Club on the map.
"For many parents of younger players at that age, weekend football is new to them. Some of the abuse towards referees that I've witnessed is unbelievable. We're just trying to educate."
As a gesture of goodwill from their improving first team, Lye's under-8s were treated to an unforgettable experience as mascots for the highest-profile league game of the season – Hereford.
The Bulls supporters descended in their numbers to the Sports Ground and a terrific crowd of 688 – Lye's best for some 15 years – saw the hosts just fall short in a 2-1 defeat.
The youngsters also had another chance to enjoy the mascot treatment at Lye's final home game of the campaign against Dunkirk.
Westwood added: "They really, really enjoyed it. So thanks to the club and chairman Brian Blakemore. We just want to give something back to the kids."
Anyone interested in going along or supporting the club should contact Simon Westwood on 07494 522 163.
