Reserve divisions kicked into touch

9:11am Wednesday 9th July 2008

There's a major change to the Pembrokeshire football league structure, which was brought in at the annual general meeting.

Prior to the meeting the league council decided to scrap the current league of three divisions and two reserve divisions, known as the pyramid system, and revert back to five divisions.

This effectively means that the reserve divisions have been completely scrapped.

It was back in 1994 that the pyramid system was introduced, and it has run successfully for 14 years. So why change?

League secretary Brian Hawkins explained: "The current league council felt that the pyramid league system had run its course. The league had got stale and we felt it was time for change.

"Pembrokeshire football is in a healthy state, but this decision was made purely to freshen things up and create interest."

So with the introduction of five divisions in place for the forthcoming season, the league system will now consist of 14 teams in the first three divisions, 12 in division four and eleven in division five. Two teams will be promoted and two relegated from each division, so no change there. Plus each division will contest for a cup, so there'll be five finals next season, instead of four.

The Pembrokeshire league currently has 65 teams registered and new teams are always welcome as long as they meet the criteria.

There is one new team which will play in division five at the start of this season, called the West Dragons. The team will play in Crundale, which is situated two miles north on the outskirts of Haverfordwest.

The league council also co-opted on two new members Rowena Lloyd and Steve Briers.

West Wales league secretary Bob Waygood awarded Brian Harries a long service medal for serving on the league council for 40-years .

The Pembrokeshire league fixtures should reach secretaries shortly and the league council has already decided that September 6th and October 11th will be kept free because Wales is playing in world cup qualifiers.