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Both Preston City Council and South Ribble Borough Council have declared their parks and pitches fit for play this weekend Saturday 8th & Sunday 9th March 2014 but Chorley Council parks are OFF.

However the final decision will be made by the match referee and should the weather deteriorate clubs and match officials are asked to act responsibly and not play on any pitch which is clearly unfit.

The parks being on is good news for the local junior and youth leagues as The 'SILENT WEEKEND' happens this weekend!

The Football Association and the Lancashire Football Association are having a Silent Weekend throughout our local leagues which requires all adults present at grassroots youth and mini-soccer matches to refrain from shouting for just one weekend and then reflect on how that felt.

They will of course ask the children and young people to assess their own experience of the initiative. BBC Breakfast is previewing Silent Weekend on Friday 7th March, Radio Lancashire have also promoted the event, and we hope other regional and local media outlets will publicise it as an example of Lancashire clubs and leagues leading the way in terms of best practice.

Although we are not involved in this initiative, the Lancashire Sunday League sends its best wishes to all involved in the Central Lancashire Junior League and the Mid Lancs Colts League games this weekend.

Eamonn McNamara.

Preston referee Keith Martin, a member of Preston Referees Society, has been appointed to referee the Syndicate Trust Challenge Cup Final Ingol Rangers FC v Plungington Celtic FC at the QED Stadium, Bamber Bridge on Wednesday 2 April 2014.

A native of South Shields County Durham, Keith arrived in the city six years ago to take a degree course at the University of Central Lancashire and he decided to stay and become a Prestonian. He is an Employment Advisor at Ingeus, Preston.

Although he started refereeing in South Shields he did not get seriously involved until he spoke to Jim Bryson and joined the Sunday League list of referees in 2008. He is now a Level 4 Referee on the North West Pool and also a Contributory League Assistant Referee.

Keith was delighted to accept the appointment and he paid tribute to Preston Referees Society and its members and also to Jim Bryson for his encouragement and support.

Dale Bowden has been appointed to referee the Presidents Cup Final Euxton Bolts FC v Preston South end FC at Bamber Bridge FC on Wednesday 19 March 2014
Andy Daniels takes charge of the Youth Cup Final which will be played at the County Ground, Leyland on Wednesday 30 April 2014
Connor McMahon will referee the Youth Trophy Final Leyland Albion FC v Lostock St Gerards FC at Bamber Bridge FC on Wednesday 26 March 2014.

The full list of Cup final appointments is;

Syndicate Trust Challenge Cup Final

Referee:	Keith Martin
Assistant Referees:	Ed Duckworth & Steven Holden
Reserve Referee:	Gary Atkinson

Syndicate Trust Presidents Cup Final

Referee:	Dale Bowden
Assistant Referees:	Phil Rigby & Mark Otto
Reserve Referee:	Paul Mountain

Syndicate Trust Youth Cup Final

Referee:	Andy Daniels
Assistant Referees:	Shaun Taylor & George Allison
Reserve Referee:	Kevin Roberts

Syndicate Trust Youth Trophy Final

Referee:	Connor McMahon
Assistant Referees:	David Shaw & Alex Christopher
Reserve Referee:	Craig Dickinson

Eamonn McNamara.

Edinburgh based Loanhead Miners Youth Team, who are all aged 16 or 17, are visiting this area on the weekend of April 11th - 14th and they will be based in Blackpool.

They have already arranged a match against Preston North End U17s on Saturday 12th April at the UCLan Sports Arena, kicking off at 10.30am.

The club is trying to secure a fixture for the morning of Sun 13th April in either the Blackpool or Preston areas and they have asked the League to see if any of our youth teams are interested in what would be an international fixture.

If your club is interested, please contact; Loanhead Miners YFC.

Eamonn McNamara.

Leyland Albion raced to an early lead in their Youth Trophy semi-final against Springfields Yellow when James McVittie pounced on a defensive mix up in the 6th minute to score from close range and Tommy Lang added a second on 27 minutes to give Albion a 2-0 lead at half time.

It was a different Springfields in the second half and their persistent pressure was rewarded in the 55th minute when Simon Kember struck a low drive past the keeper. And five minutes later the scores were level after James Salisbury raced down the left wing and slotted the ball into the corner of the net. Now it was all Springfields and they looked the more likely winners, until the 85th minute when Albion’s Barney Morris hit a fierce drive from, 30 yards which gave the keeper no chance and put Leyland Albion into the Trophy Final.

Meanwhile on the adjacent pitch 2 at the UCLan Arena the other semi-final was another close affair between Lostock St Gerards and Tarleton Corinthians, two well drilled and evenly balanced teams. Lostock St Gerards took the lead in the 15th minute when Austen Mason beat his man and drove the ball past the keeper. Their second came on 50 minutes from Joel Candy but even then the Corinthians lads kept up the pressure and made it a most enjoyable game to watch.

These two semi-finals were the best of youth football, four excellent clubs with keen and determined coaching staff and some talented players who wanted to play football and not cheat or resort to unpleasant tactics. A word of praise also for the match officials referees Keith Martin and Cliff Trickett and their Assistants Russ Anderton, Peter Saul, Trevor Barrow and Phil Rigby who earned plaudits from everyone for their performances.

The Syndicate Trust Youth Trophy Final, Leyland Albion v Lostock St Gerards will be played at Bamber Bridge FC on Wednesday 26 March 2014, kick off 7.30pm.

The shock result of the day if not of the season came at Mardale Rd, Longridge when AFC Longridge beat division 1 leaders New Longton Rovers 4-1 and ruined their 100% record for the season. Greg Timbrell (2), Johnny Timbrell and Joe Melling scored for Longridge with Karl Brooks getting the Longton goal. AFC Brigg beat Wrea Green 4-0, Station East End beat Tanterton 3-1, AFC Ashwood won 1-0 at Theatre Boys and Unicorn beat Lostock Hall 3-1.

Plenty of goals in the premier division where Plungington Celtic won at Lea, Preston Muldoons won at BAC Continental Casuals and Euxton Corinthians beat AFC Ingol.

Ashton Villa won 4-1 at Springfields to keep top spot in division 2 but Walton Athletic’s great form continued with a 4-2 win at second placed Grange, Preston Sector won at Gregson Lane Wanderers and Vernon Sports beat Preston South End 6-2.

Division 3 leaders Wilbraham Wanderers were held 0-0 at Worden Rangers whilst second placed Waverley won 6-2 at Albrighton. Gregson Lane won 5-1 at Ribbleton Wanderers, Warton Typhoons and Fulwood Park Rangers drew 1-1 and St Theresas who beat Ashton on Ribble 1-0 were grateful to their opponents and referee Jonathan Selcoe for observing a minute’s silence to remember their player Chris Johnson’s mother who died this week.

Division 4 leaders Fishwick Rangers defeated arch rivals Hesketh Bank 6-1 and these were the first points that the Hesketh Bank outfit had dropped all season. Euxton Bolts won 5-0 at BAE Warton, Guild Innovation won 4-0 at Chorley St Gregory’s and Leyland Orient beat Lytham Town 9-2.

Two games in Youth Red saw Bolton County beat Burscough 4-0 and Ribchester Rovers draw 2-2 with Ramsbottom United. Astley & Buckshaw and Charnock Richard drew 4-4 in Youth White, Crown beat BAC Preston 6-1 and Elton Vale won 3-2 at Mellor.

AFC Blackpool won 1-0 at Bamber Bridge Utd in Youth Blue, Euxton Villa beat Ribbleton 5-1, Lostock Hall SC beat Penwortham 4-0 and Garstang won 4-1 at New Longton Rovers. Finally in Youth Green the two games played saw Poulton win 7-5 at Gregson Lane and Norcross & Warbreck beat Kirkham 2-1.

Round up and photos by Eamonn McNamara.

Both Preston City Council and South Ribble Borough Council have declared their parks and pitches fit for play this weekend.

However the final decision will be made by the match referee and should the weather deteriorate clubs and match officials are asked to act responsibly and not play on any pitch which is clearly unfit.

This is the first time since 9th December (a period of 13 weeks) that the weather has allowed both major authorities to declare their pitches fit for play.

Eamonn McNamara.

The League is pleased to announce the following dates and venues for this season’s Syndicate Trust Cup Finals;

Presidents Cup Final
Euxton Bolts FC v Preston South End FC
Bamber Bridge FC
Wednesday 19 March 2014, kick off 7.30pm

Youth Trophy Final
Leyland Albion FC v Lostock St Gerards FC
Bamber Bridge FC
Wednesday 26 March 2014, kick off 7.30pm

Challenge Cup Final
Ingol Rangers FC v Plungington Celtic FC
Bamber Bridge FC
Wednesday 02 April 2014, kick off 7.30pm

Youth Cup Final
LFA County Ground, Leyland
Wednesday 30 April 2014, kick off 7.00pm

Eamonn McNamara.

Training will be held from 6.30-7.30pm every Monday evening at Preston Sports Arena during the summer in preparation for the 2013-14 season.

Our weekly fitness sessions with the excellent facilities on offer at the Arena and the support group atmosphere is something very positive which the Society offers.

Organiser Paul Marsden said, "I would particularly appeal to any members who perhaps do not currently attend Society meetings for whatever reason to give the fitness sessions a go as I assure you that you will find it a very good way of getting involved, it will benefit your refereeing.

If you are interested in coming down either next week or in the future, please contact Paul Marsden via e-mail .