Leagues’ gift to clubs
30th January 2008

Standing around watching is not something the Spennymoor Sunday League normally gets involved in.
The league which has taken lead that others have followed over the past few years by being, the first to introduce a three strikes rule, the first to send every team on a first aid course, the first to give every team a first aid kit and the first to have its own branded footballs has come up with another first for the people who do stand and watch. This season all 30 teams in the league will each get free, three sets of weatherproof suits to keep their substitutes warm and dry. Now when the cry to “get warmed up” goes out, at least players won’t be stood shivering on cold wet Sunday mornings. All clubs were issued with them at the October meeting.
“The welfare of players is something we take very seriously.” said league secretary Mike Hill, “So we decided that the proceeds from our sportsman’s dinner would be used to buy clubs something which would benefit players directly, and something most didn’t already have.” The dinner, held last January to commemorate the league’s 20th anniversary, featured Steve Kindon and Liverpool legend Tommy Smith. “You see at almost every game substitutes wearing anything they can to keep warm on the sidelines on cold and wet winter mornings, so we thought some warm dry clothing would be ideal for every team. All the feedback we have had from the clubs seems to show that they have been well received by the players, especially now the weather is taking a turn for the worse. ”
The jackets, supplied by Consett based Sport Kits Direct, carry the Spennymoor League logo and have pockets and a hood.
The league has also given one each to its pool of loyal referees to wear for travelling to and from games. ”These guys are very important to us. They are as much a part of the league as any of the players so it was only right we give one to them also,” said referee’s secretary Gary Mclelland.