Downpatrick Youth football league

🌟 THE JOURNEY STARTS HERE! 🌟

Our U7 Small-Sided Games get underway on 19th September! ⚽🙌

📍 Saintfield Community Center

For many of our young players, this will be the beginning of their football journey — making friends, developing their skills and, most importantly, enjoying the game! ❤️

⚽ Fun
🤝 Friends
📈 Development
❤️ Football

We can’t wait to see the next generation getting started!

🔴⚪ WE ARE BACK! ⚪🔴

The wait is nearly over… football returns to the Downpatrick Youth Football League! ⚽🔥

📅 League action returns week commencing: 11th–13th September

New season. New matches. New memories. Same love of the game. ❤️⚽

We can’t wait to welcome our clubs, coaches, players, parents and supporters back for another brilliant season of youth football.

See you on the pitch! 👊

Important Safeguarding update for clubs.

There are a few special mentions for others, who have provided assistance, guidance and support throughout last season.
None more so that Jim Masson, ()
his continual help each week, with promoting the league through his photos, have been exceptional.
I know all participants in the league look forward to spotting themselves on social media.

Other special mentions.
In no particular order.

Gerry McKee and William Ewart at NIYFA.
Damien Morgan, Tony McShane, Conor Haughey and Gerard McKeever from NMDDC.
Kyle Spiers from North Down and Ards SSG. Seamus Heath.
Michael Carville. Darren McGoran. Mark McGoran. Conleth McCarthy. Jayne from Saintfield Community centre.
Hannah/ Patricia from Ballyhornan Community centre.

Their continued advice and support for League has been a much appreciated.

Apologies if I have missed anyone.
There have been so many supporters of our league, especially those trying to help convince teams to stay and play local.

Thanks again to everyone for all the support.

A few more thanks.

We want to thank some of the local businesses who support our League.

Thanks to Bargainland who is our main supplier of medals and trophies for our League and Cup competitions.
We want to take this opportunity and pay our respects to Gerry, who sadly passed away a few months ago.
He was always a great supporter of the league, he will be missed.

Next thanks to
The Kitroom. They supply all our clothing needs for the committee and our referees.
They also supply the league with a range of football equipment.

Finally we want to thank
Plus 2 Print their help with printing, League documents, banners and other information.
This is much appreciated.

These local businesses are always on hand and happy to support our League with whatever we require.

Thanks

Thanks.
For the past 8–9 years, our main sponsor, ALPS (All Lives Are Precious), has been an unwavering source of support for our league.

We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Ronan and his team for their continued sponsorship and dedication.

We highly recommend their services to anyone who needs a compassionate person to talk to. ALPS is an incredible mental health charity that provides life-saving support.

Their impact is substantial, providing access to thousands of hours of therapy every year with no session limits and absolutely no cost to those seeking help.

While their team of 14 therapists provides support all across the country, they operate locally on a daily basis from their premises in Downpatrick and Crossgar

They are always there when you need them , please don't be afraid to reach out or visit
www.alpsltd.org for more information.

Thanks.

Our league wouldn't be able to keep running successfully, without the support from the IFA.
Their continual advice, support and investment has been fantastic.
We want to thank Abbie Magee (IFA Game Development Officer) for her day to day support, with the running of our League.
We also want to thank Jordan Reid (IFA Game Development Manager)
Lauren Moore (IFA Womens Football Development Manager) and Marissa Callaghan (IFA Women's Football Development Officer) for all their time, knowledge and investment to both our Boys and Girls leagues.
A special thanks goes to Ciaran Donaghy (IFA Coach Developer) for his delivery of the Grassroots NCC Level 1 coaching course.
We had 27 coaches within our league attend. Well done to them.
We also hope to provide more coaching opportunities for all our clubs, next season.

Thank you all. ⚽

Next !
We wouldn't be able to ensure our matches were played every week without our range of fantastic venues.
NMDDC have always been great supporters of our League, and they ensured that all the local grass pitches were in great shape over the season, especially throughout the winter period.
Their addition of the new 3G pitch in Newcastle has helped attract teams back to our League.

Our other 3G venues have also been invaluable to the league.
Thanks goes to Kilmore Rec 3G.
Celtic Bhoys/Ballyhornan Community centre 3G. Ballynahinch Olympic/Assumption 3G and Saintfield Community centre indoor 3G.
We look forward to continuing our participation at each of these venues next season.
Thanks

Thank You.
We start by thanking all the members of the Committee group, for all their help and advice over this past season.
We want to give a massive thanks to our Referee Secretarys Michael and James and to all our referees.
Each week their help and guidance to all the players and coaches, has helped shape our league.
Finally we want to say thanks to our longest standing Committee member Andy.
He's always available to offer advice.
He works in the background, linking in with the IFA, all to better support our League and is always on hand as the voice of reason whenever things get complicated.
Thank you all.

Information about our application form 2026/27 season.
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