This potted history was written for the 1986-1987 Season by Peter Brown, the League General Secretary
“The Chiltern Youth Football League”, as it was first known, was born in 1953 as a result of the amalgamation of The Luton and District Youth League and The Dunstable and District Youth League.
At this time the League reputation increased rapidly and teams have been attracted from Clubs as far afield from its Bedfordshire base, as Newmarket, Cambridge in the north east of the region and from as far South as Cheshunt and Enfield. Indeed at the present time the League is pleased to have teams from Stony Stratford, Newport Pagnell, Milton Keynes, Leighton Buzzard, Wing, Hitchin, Royston, Welwyn Garden City, Letchworth and Stevenage as valued members of its ranks.
The late seventies saw one of the most important developments in the League’s evolution, when, following hard work from Mr. Geoff Henkes, then a Management Committee Member, now Chairman, a sponsorship deal was agreed with Bernards World of Sport.
In 1986 a new association began with Bovis Homes Limited and the League’s name was changed to incorporate the new Sponsor’s name.
Many players have passed through the Leagueinto the professional game, the most famous of these, from the past at least, is Bruce Rioch who captained Scotland in the World Cup in Argentina. Others have been Alan Slough (ex Luton Town,who played for Fulham in the FA Cup Final), Andy King (who reached fame with Everton), Kerry Dixon (Chelsea), is perhaps the best known at the present time and Kerry can be found every Sunday around our local parks as a Team Manager ofa Club in our 13/15 Section.
At present, we are pleased to record many players making a name for themselves in the Today Football League: Mitchell Thomas (Tottenham Hotspur), Peter Gleasure (Northampton), Wayne Turner(Brentford), Ray Daniel (Hull City), Stacey North and Richard Harvey (Luton Town). Kerry and Wayne also assist with the League Representative Teams, and show an interest in the League’s welfare.
The League now has seven age groups (9-11;10-12; 11-13; 12-14; 13-15; 14-16 and 14-18) which over 130 teams competing, and the League feels it is meeting its aim of providing competitive, well organised soccer for all those in the area who wish to play, thanks to the generous support of Bovis Homes Limited
League History
