NEHYL Latest News

2026 Presentation Gallery Published

Mon, 22 Jun 2026 11:46:12 GMT

"Thanks for all of your hard work organising the awards ceremony. It was a great evening."

Huge thanks to the Divisional Secretaries who have worked hard voluntarily throughout the season and special thanks to Sue Barnes who organises the trophies and the presentation nights.

The presentation galleries by day can be found here:

Thanks to Jake Ward at JW Media Online for taking hundreds of pictures over the 3 nights.

Congratulations to all that got to the finals stage and well done to all clubs and teams that took part throughout the season.

The sound of young players roaring with excitement as the curtains pulled back to reveal the trophies on the first night made all the hard work by the league officials worth it!

Massive thanks to Sue Barnes who organises a lot of the evening from picking up trophies to seat allocation - not an easy task!

"Thanks for all of your hard work organising the awards ceremony. It was a great evening."

- Adam (Manor Colts Royals U13s)

"On behalf of myself, the players, coaches and the parents of the Loddon Cobras, I want to say a huge thank you for last night and everything that goes into the event itself.

We really enjoyed the atmosphere, presentation and the chance to celebrate all together again.

Thank you - and hopefully see you next season!"

- Rob (Loddon Sports U16)

Registrations and Renewals Open for 2026/27

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 10:44:57 GMT

Preparation for Season 2026/27 has begun

As we wind down season 2025/26, there is no resting for the league as we prepare for next season.

Club Registrations & Renewals are open until the end of July and can be entered here .
Club & Team Contacts can register/renew here (all age groups have been rolled forward if you were already on the system). More information on how the Club & Team contacts database is used is here .
Referees can register/renew but must do this with their County FA first and capture the bR receipt reference provided on screen to enter in to the NEHYL Contacts System. More information here .

Club Secretaries are responsible for ensuring all contacts have registered on the NEHYL Contacts System here ASAP to ensure essential comms from the league are not missed.

NEHYL Girls Sunday League will offer football to U12+

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 13:19:01 GMT

NEHYL Girls Sunday League Goes from Strength to Strength

Following the announcement in May 2024 when Hampshire FA gave the green light for North East Hants Youth League (NEHYL) to restart their all-girls league, the Sunday girls league has now grown from 0 to 83 teams in the development U7 to U11 age groups.

The current U11 girls’ teams asked the league to lobby Hampshire FA to continue into U12’s next season and they have once again been given the green light to continue playing with NEHYL.

Rob Harden, who will be the U12 Girls Divisional Secretary for NEHYL next season, said:

“We are very excited and pleased that Hampshire FA have supported the continuation of the NEHYL Girls Sunday league following its success thus far. It provides a wonderful opportunity to continue developing girls’ football beyond U11 and into competitive football, whilst still ensuring accessibility to local, sustainable football within the Area. I am excited to help the wider NEHYL team and grow the interest in the league over the coming seasons.”

The league is delighted to be able to announce this ahead of next season so that teams and clubs have time to plan their all-girls teams for next season.

NEHYL is a development league, and the fundamental goal is to encourage girls to play and develop at their pace. We also encourage the talented players to also play in the county leagues, and the girls also have a choice to play in Hampshire Girls Youth League on a Saturday and the Surrey County Women and Girls league on a Sunday. The key is playing at the right level and for the younger girls to consider the distances to travel for matches. NEHYL geographical footprint covers north Hampshire, Surrey and Berkshire borders building communities of clubs.

Suzanne Swan the lead divisional secretary for the NEHYL Girls League, added:

“We have an open-door policy throughout the season and welcome any girls who want to start to play to get in touch and we can connect you to our clubs. We run league groups for U7 to U12s, and we also have recreational fun flexi football for girls age 13+ who are starting or developing their game in a less competitive environment, and we welcome girls to play in our regular fun festivals. We piloted the new U7 3v3 FA scheme this year with incredibly positive feedback and will continue to grow football in this area.”

Girls' Teams at the 2024/25 Presentations

Next 3v3 Taster Event - Saturday 18th April

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 15:48:30 GMT

NEHYL is hosting another next 3v3 taster

18th April 2026 at 11am

Badshot Lea Youth FC, Weybourne Recreation Ground, Weybourne Lane, Weybourne, Farnham GU9 9HJ

All Parking at William Cobbett Primary School

Having parked up, please carefully cross the road & head towards the ground - see map below

WHAT YOU WILL NEED

Your own footballs – first named team provides the match ball
Bibs - so as to avoid kit clashes
Medical bag
Appropriate clothing & attire for the British weather

LET THE GAMES BEGIN…..

First kick off should be at around 11am, preceded by a briefing for all managers & pitch facilitators. Please arrive no later than 10:30am.

SCHEDULE

We’ll be running 25 teams across 5 pitches with games lasting 9 minutes with a 3 minute changeover interval. A match schedule will be circulated electronically the night before, please make sure it is widely distributed to your managers, coaches, parents etc.

PHOTOGRAPHS

Photographs may be taken at the event and some of these could end up on league or club social media. If anyone from your team(s) do not wish to be photographed, they must tell Trevor Norris, Nigel Welch or Phil Rush.

FURRY FRIENDS

Are permitted just so long as they are kept on a lead and that you remove anything they inadvertently leave behind!

AND TO ROUND THINGS OFF

There will be a little bag of Haribo for all players.

NEHYL Future Fit Events

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 12:17:45 GMT

Upcoming 3v3 Events with NEHYL

3v3 Festival & HFA Education event on 12th April 2026 at 8:45am at Cody Sports Club

In preparation for the roll out of changes to youth football, The FA & Hampshire FA are delivering this event where league and club officials can view 3v3 games in action, in partnership with NEHYL who are an early adopting league. We highly recommend you attend this event.

The event will:

Include a CPD element
Provide opportunities for a Q&A with Hampshire FA staff and early-adopting league officials
Demonstrate how to set up and deliver 3v3 matches
Show how teams can rotate from one game to another
Offer a live insight into how matchdays will look for Under7’s playing 3v3

Timings:

8:45am-9:00am – Participant arrival
9:00am – Classroom CPD
10:00am – View Pitch Setup/ Set up pitch
10:30am – View Fixtures & Observation Tasks
11:15am – Debrief & Q&A Inside
11:45am - 12pm – Close

BOOK YOUR PLACE HERE →

Other Events

18/04/2026 : 11am - Mixed 3v3 Taster Sessions - Badshot Lea FC, Weybourne Rec, Farnham, GU9 9HJ - All cars to park in William Cobbett School then cross at the crossing and walk down the alley way to the Rec. Sign up here .
26/04/2026 : All Day - Girls Festival & Finals Day- Eversley & California - contact girls@nehyl.org.uk
26/04/2026 : Timing TBC - HFA/FA 3v3 Showcase Event KG5, King George V Football Complex Portsmouth - sign up here .
27/04/2026 : Online - Future Fit Digital Conference for Coaches - more information here .
16/05/2026 : 3pm - Mixed 3v3 Festival - Fleet Spurs - Fleet Spurs 16th May - more information here .

FutureFit - March Update

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 15:41:11 GMT

Updates from The FA: Events & Funding for Goals

3v3 Showcase Events

In preparation for the roll out of changes to youth football, Hampshire FA are delivering a series of events where league and club officials can view 3v3 games in action, in partnership with our Early Adopting Leagues.

Each event will:

Include a CPD element
Provide opportunities for a Q&A with Hampshire FA staff and early-adopting league officials
Demonstrate how to set up and deliver 3v3 matches
Show how teams can rotate from one game to another
Offer a live insight into how matchdays will look for Under7’s playing 3v3

For more information and details of events near you, please click here .

3v3 Goals Funding

New funding for 3v3 goalposts is now integrated into the Football Foundation’s Small Grants scheme, covering up to 75% of costs for match-play activity. Goals funding will be available in two windows:

Window 1: Central Venue Leagues

Window 2: Eligible organisations participating in home and away format affiliated leagues.

Applications will need to be made on the Football Foundations website , with a minimum grant award of £400. Applications will open in April and will remain open until all available funding has been allocated.

Digital Clubs Conference

The FA delivered a digital clubs conference on Monday 16th, Tuesday 17th and Wednesday 18th March to equip clubs with all the information they need to deliver the changes to youth football next season, you can watch all of the sessions back in your own time here .

Under 6 Age Group Players

For clubs who are looking to skip the exciting new 3v3 format and play their Under 7’s in an Under 8’s division (to bypass 3v3 and play 5v5 format instead), there are some important considerations for club officials which will impact the ability to recruit players: When a player turns 6 years old (would be U6 for that season), they can play for the under 7s only in that season. If a club does not offer Under 7s these players cannot play until the following season. A player turning 6 cannot play in the Under 8s.

Club Survey

We are currently working closely with all of our youth leagues to support them with implementing the changes to youth football. In order to put us in the best position to support our leagues, we would like to hear from you about the upcoming changes.

Please fill out this short survey to tell us your challenges and where you need support with implementation.

Rise of Abuse

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 13:42:02 GMT

NEHYL has zero tolerance of verbal & physical abuse

Following a number of recent OTR reports received by the North East Hampshire Youth League Discipline Committee, we are writing to remind ALL CLUBS that this league will not tolerate any form of verbal or physical abuse towards ANY individual , at any level of the game.

This season, we have seen an unacceptable increase in incidents involving racism, homophobia and sexism, alongside multiple cases of both younger and older referees being subjected to abhorrent verbal and, in some cases, physical abuse. This behaviour has no place in football, and the League is now taking a firmer and more robust stance in response.

Please be advised that any OTR reports of this nature are automatically forwarded to The FA for investigation and, where appropriate, disciplinary sanctions.

The North East Hampshire Youth League has always prided itself on being a welcoming and inclusive league where football is open to everyone. However, it is clear that these incidents must stop. We therefore urge ALL CLUBS to take immediate steps to ensure that Managers, Players and Parents fully understand their responsibilities when representing their club and this League at all fixtures.

The message is clear - ANY Manager, Player, Team or Club found guilty by The FA of such offences may also face further sanctions imposed by the League . These sanctions may include, but are not limited to, suspension or expulsion from the League , whether applied at an individual, team or club level.

As a League, we have a duty to support and protect all those who uphold fair play, respect and decency week in and week out. This includes referees, coaches, players, volunteers and spectators alike.

We thank Club Officials for their continued support and ask that this message is shared widely across your clubs with immediate effect.

North East Hampshire Youth League

Discipline Committee

Luis Gabriel Guembes Testimonial Match

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 17:28:12 GMT

Churt U16 Vipers and Mytchett Athletic U16 Kestrels at Farnborough FC

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NEHYL Newsletter Snapshot #18

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 12:31:31 GMT

February 2026

Rain rain go away…it’s been a tough few months for playing football with the weather kyboshing so many games. If ever there was evidence that we need to have more 3G pitches available to support grassroots football.

Looking forward we can but hope that we get back to everyone being able to play every Saturday or Sunday going forwards – in the competitive age groups, Div Secs are trying their hardest to schedule games without going too far into May and being cognisant of school exams and other curricular activities. In many age groups there is little choice but to schedule Double Headers – if that’s your team then you can find out more about how Double headers work here . And remember you can ask to split the games out if both teams can agree to a midweek date to play.

At this time of year is important to flag that the deadline for new player registrations and player transfers is midnight on Sunday 1st March. And it is essential between now and then that you continue to flag any new registrations or transfers to the age group Div Sec – they don’t have a crystal ball (or receive any sort of system notification) to tell them when a player awaits their approval.

Please do take time to read through all the information in this newsletter – and, as ever, there is a wealth of information on this website, so if you are ever unsure about anything around the league then this should be your go to first port of call.

Silent Support Weekend

At NEHYL, we are fully behind the FA Silent Support Weekend initiative. This season’s second national weekend will be taking place on the 14th & 15th March 2026 - and the FA are reporting that they have record numbers taking part.

We ask all clubs and teams to help get behind the rationale of silent support weekend – with the key objective being to focus on the players, letting them play, and giving them a voice at their matches. It is NOT about the adults spectating – they are welcome to react positively to every player on the pitch as the game plays out, which is how they should be in every game. And it is a chance for coaches to consider how they deliver messages to their players before and during games.

The FA have published a wealth of supporting information for Clubs that can be accessed through our article here . And there is some great background to the initiative here .

Pass-Ins / Dribble-Ins – Guidance for Coaches and Referees

At North East Hants Youth League, we have been using pass-ins and dribble-ins for around three seasons. This approach minimises the risk of heading the ball and supports key player development outcomes, including:

Improved first touch and passing technique
Enhanced decision-making (e.g., when to pass versus dribble)
Quicker restarts that keep the game flowing

Long Kicks from Pass-Ins

Across the country — not just within NEHYL — we’re seeing an increasing trend where players or teams:

Kick the ball long and high downfield, treating the restart like a free kick
Use it to gain territory rather than build play
Undermine the core development goals of short, controlled, and thoughtful play

While this behaviour is not currently “illegal,” it goes against the developmental intent behind removing traditional throw-ins. Therefore, we ask all coaches not to encourage or accept this approach.

Referees and coaches are expected to use common sense. If a restart results in a long, high “launch” downfield, it should be retaken and treated as a teaching opportunity to reinforce what is expected. It’s vital that all coaches at development age groups (U7–U11) consistently encourage players to play short and purposeful passes or dribbles, rather than simply kicking long. We also expect coaches to support referees who ask for a restart to be retaken when this occurs.

Opposition Distance

When a pass-in or dribble-in is taken, the opposing team must be 4.5 metres away from the player restarting play (or 3 metres away in 3v3 matches). Encroachment has become increasingly common, so referees will be asked to be more vigilant in enforcing this rule. Coaches are expected to help by encouraging their players to move back promptly and respect the required distance.

Summary

Our shared aim is to ensure these restarts:

Encourage technical quality and decision-making
Support the developmental focus of the game
Promote respect for officials and opponents

Thank you to everyone supporting U7 to U11 football in helping us maintain the right environment for player development in NEHYL football.

Match Day & Discipline “Cheat Sheet”

Reporting Post-Match Incidents

Be clear & factual — no opinions, no drama. Make sure you include:
Offender (player, parent, spectator)
Exact words used (spell them out — no asterisks or “inappropriate language”. We have seen all the potential swear words before)
Time & clothing/appearance. Name if known to you.
Any footage of the actual incident.
Skip: match commentary, emotional statements, or “in my 50 years…” stories

Respect Handshakes

Mandatory before kick-off
Optional after the game if players want — don’t force it
Post-match handshakes = potential trouble hotspot

Managers & Referees

Only speak to refs for genuine encouragement (“well done, ref”) and to confirm name for the MRC.
Use official feedback forms for constructive comments
Remember: youth refs are learning, just like your players

Managing Supporters

You control your own spectators — Respect stewards manage your supporters, not the opposition’s
Respect Stewards should liaise before the game to agree communication in case of any incidents.
Spectators mirror the bench — so Managers and coaches lead by example

Coaching During Games

Stop shouting instructions all match
Players learn faster with focused feedback at half-time or substitutions
It is easy to get over emotional if you are kicking every ball on the pitch from the sideline. You may say things to the referee and opposition bench you may later regret.

** Quick Rule of Thumb **

Report clearly, behave respectfully on the management sideline, manage your club’s supporters only, and save the megaphone for halftime!

Postponed & Abandoned Matches

Both home and away teams are required to report their results after every fixture – and this includes abandoned and postponed matches.

For any postponed matches text 'P-P' with your team code – an MRC is NOT required to be completed.

If your match is abandoned , then text 'A-A' with your team code – you MUST submit an MRC with an 'A' in both the score fields and enter ‘Match Abandoned' and the amount of time the game that was played in the comments.

The FA brought in a new rule this season stipulating that all abandoned games must be reported to the League by both teams within 24 hours of the game. This should be done by e-mailing your divisional secretary, with the league secretary copied in.

View Div Sec Contact Details here and the information page on how to text results here .

Cup Finals

Well done to all our teams who make it to one of our Cup Finals. The dates for Cup Finals are now locked in for all age groups and published dates can be viewed here . Div Secs will confirm venue, dates and kick off times with teams.

For every Cup Final we will produce a printed programme as a souvenir of the occasion – so do make sure you have that team photo available to go into the programme !

Presentation Evenings

The season always has its finale with Presentation Evenings across all age groups at Princes Hall, Aldershot. The dates and times for each age group are published here – and this year we span three evenings from 16th to 19th June.

Our Presentation Evenings not only celebrate those who have won or finished as runners-up in their respective Divisions but the Fair Play winners for each age group. Div Secs will be in touch with more details nearer the time – and once all those invited to attend are known – and will be looking for that team photo again for each team represented.

Key Dates

We ask that clubs note that the NEHYL Annual General Meeting will be held on the 9th June ; and the Pre-Season meeting on the 27th August . It is vital that every club is represented on both occasions which will be held at Princes Hall, Aldershot.

All key dates can be found on the calendar here . Don't forget you can subscribe to the NEHYL google calendar dates and to reminders for submitting MRCs .

Laws of the Game – Changes

IFAB are the guardians of the Laws of the Game, comprising of four British football associations (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) and FIFA. This season’s main changes of relevance to NEHYL relate to Temporary Dismissals, Players Kit, Penalty Kicks and Handball. These new changes are to be applied for the new season.

The changes were briefed out to club representatives at the League Pre-Season meeting – an updated infographic summarising Temporary Dismissals can be found on our website here ; and you can view a summary of the changes to the Laws of the Game here .

Referee Availability

We have made several amendments to the referee allocation process over the course of the season in the hope that we can allocate a qualified referee to as many games as possible.

The latest update provided every registered referee with a personal link to update their availability for the rest of the season so that the Referee Secretary has up to date information to assign available referees to fixtures.

This replaces the weekly email out to all registered referees - should a referee ever need to update their availability then they can make changes instantly which will ensure the Referee Secretary is fully informed. We would stress that every referee needs to retain their personal link to ensure that it is quick and easy to provide updates.

FREE tickets to Aldershot Town FC for NEHYL Teams

Jamie MacAllister of Aldershot Town FC has reached out to let everyone know about their FREE ticket scheme that can benefit clubs competing in the NEHYL this season. They run a Community Stand Scheme where they invite community groups to ATFC fixtures for free, last season they distributed over 3,500 tickets to the local community, and amongst the beneficiaries were 52 grassroots u18 teams from 30 different clubs in the local area, many of whom compete in the NEHYL.

If this of interest to your club or team then click the link below.

Free Aldershot Town FC Tickets →

FA FutureFit

FutureFit is the set of changes that will be introduced into the youth game, marking the new direction for grassroots football from the beginning of the 2026/27 season . The changes are based on significant research across the grassroots community; consultation with the best minds in the game; and observing the positive impact the changes have already had in other countries. The results were clear - we need to give every child better opportunity to learn, develop and grow by putting their skills and playing experience first.

As part of the changes, U7 players will move to an exciting 3v3 format, designed to maximise touches, increase engagement, and accelerate player development in a fun, age-appropriate environment. To help clubs prepare for the upcoming change, Hampshire FA are delivering a series of Showcase Events across Hampshire. This includes the following dates:

7th March, Timings TBC | Winklebury Football Complex, Basingstoke
12th April, 09:30 start | Crookham Rovers, Cody Sports & Social Club, GU14 0LP

The FA has provided a link at which you can book your place on your preferred Showcase Event here .

FutureFit makes changes across all age groups up to and including U13 – we will be briefing clubs and teams further in the weeks ahead, but you can find out more here . You can also register for the FA online conference where you can join officials from other clubs; those involved in running clubs; and others in the grassroots football community, to learn all about the changes and what they mean to you, your players and your club.

There will be an additional NEHYL event where all current U6 & U7 players will be invited as follows:

21st March, Timings TBC | Mixed U6 / U7 3v3 session | Crookham Rovers, GU14 0LP

Girls U7 3x3 Festivals

We have seen positive take up by clubs for their U7 Girls Teams where we have been playing the new 3x3 format this season. There is still time for Clubs to sign up U7 Girls Teams and get first hand insight into how 3x3 football works and the significant positives that this format has at this age. The remaining Girls U7 3x3 Festivals will be held as follows:

Sunday 1st March: Festival venue Frimley Lodge from 9am to 10.30am
Sunday 15th March: Festival venue Ash tbc
Sunday 29th March: Festival venue Hawley tbc
Sunday 12th April: Festival venue Crookham Rovers tbc
Sunday 26th April: Festival venue Eversley & California (alongside Girls’ finals day)

If you are interested, then please contact girls@nehyl.org.uk

USEFUL LINKS
Match Admin | FAQ's | Dates | Texting Results | MRC's | Resources | News | Referees

Let us know what you think...

If you have any ideas of information you would like to see in these newsletters or on our website, please email web@nehyl.org.uk

Silent Support Weekend - 14th & 15th March

Mon, 16 Feb 2026 13:21:09 GMT

Down goes your noise, up goes their game!

7 in 10 people said Silent Support improves bad behaviour on the sidelines. And helps young players to enjoy their game without distraction from the sidelines.

Silent Support Weekend is a national initiative to help young players find their voice on the pitch, make their own decisions and enjoy their game … with no distracting noise from spectators on the sidelines. During Silent Support Weekend, applause from spectators for good play – and quiet encouragement from coaches – is welcome.

Below are some social assets for clubs to use - you can find the full club asset pack from The FA here and learn more here .

Free tickets to ATFC

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 15:31:30 GMT

Shots Foundation Free Tickets for selected fixtures up to April

Their objective is to give an opportunity for the local community to come and enjoy live football from the comfort of our dedicated Community Stand (seats 250 people).

Please contact admin@shotsfoundation.org if you have any questions.

Fixtures are for:

vs Scunthorpe (Sat 21 Feb 15:00)
vs Rochdale (Sat 28 Feb 15:00)
vs Carlisle (Tue 10 Mar 19:45)
vs York City (Sat 14 Mar 15:00) GIRLS GROUPS ONLY
vs Boreham Wood (Tue 24 Mar 19:45)
vs Sutton United (Fri 3 Apr 15:00)
vs Gateshead (Sat 11 Apr 15:00)
vs Truro City (Sat 25 Apr 15:00)

Take Action. Protect The Game.

Fri, 14 Nov 2025 17:55:29 GMT

This month, The FA are running a national campaign that shows grassroots football Reporting Hate Protects the Game.

Educate your clubs and yourself on how to protect the game and reduce hate and discrimination as well as reporting it when it happens here .

Click the images below for more resources and information. Enough is enough!

NEHYL Newsletter Snapshot #17

Tue, 04 Nov 2025 14:54:14 GMT

November 2025

The clocks have gone back, Autumn is well and truly here, and the season underway – this is always a good time to provide updates on key issues that are being spotted during games across all age groups – as well as let you know more about what is happening in general. As ever, there is a wealth of information on our League website – so if you are ever unsure about anything around the league then this should be your go to first port of call.

Our last newsletter highlighted the Football Association announcing an updated set of measures to help improve behaviour and combat misconduct in grassroots football . These interventions are aimed at driving a positive culture across grassroots football and act as a clear deterrent against unacceptable behaviours. They also form part of the ‘Love Football. Protect The Game’ campaign to introduce enhanced measures and tougher sanctions so that everyone can enjoy the game in a positive and enjoyable environment.

So, why repeat that message?

Simply put, we are not seeing any uptick in behaviour at matches; in fact, it is getting worse .

Every single person reading this newsletter has a role in helping to stamp out misconduct of any kind at grassroots football matches. We will do all we can as a league – and some sanctions that we could reasonably take may not be popular, but they will be necessary. Likewise, Clubs have a role in acting before we need to as a league – and we will back you all the way in taking positive action to remove those exhibiting unacceptable behaviour from grassroots football – be that on the pitch; team coaches and managers; or spectators.

Silent Support Weekend

Keep it positive. Enjoy the game. And above all else, let the players enjoy their game.

Silent Support Weekend is on the 15th & 16th November and is all about positive support. Quiet encouragement and applause for good play are welcome. But everything else can have the weekend off.

During Silent Support Weekend, let’s all respect our players by giving them a space where they can all enjoy the game; and an opportunity for their voices to be heard. Silent Support Weekend is not optional – ALL NEHYL fixtures will embrace this initiative.

FA FutureFit – U7 Football

NEHYL U7 Girls’ 3v3 festivals kick started on Sunday 5th October with Crookham Rovers kindly hosting the first two festivals and the FA Future Fit team providing new mini goals.

“High Fives” and “Rock Paper Scissors” start each game; and we are pleased to share that we are adding more teams at each Festival. This is proving a fantastic opportunity to understand the FutureFit for junior football – and we encourage all clubs to consider joining in the fun and, importantly, the learning around how 3x3 football is played. Feedback to date has been hugely positive. The next festival is Sunday 9th November and fortnightly thereafter; to find out more please contact girls@nehyl.org.uk .

Hampshire FA have confirmed they will be hosting a FutureFit coaching session for NEHYL team coaches, managers, and admins on the morning of Sunday 30th November. This will be open to anyone currently on the U7 girls 3v3 program; those thinking of joining the U7 girls this season; and, space permitting, those looking to learn more ahead of next season when all U7 teams (boys and girls) will be playing in the new FA FutureFit 3v3; again, to find out more please contact girls@nehyl.org.uk

Match Day Administration

As a reminder, the Match Day Admin Process is laid out clearly with everything you need to know here .

Remember, you must exchange Match Day Team Sheets with your opposition. They must name your Manager & Coaches; and they must have players listed with their (unique) shirt numbers.

You MUST have your Photo Squad List with you for every match and let your opposition know that you have it – importantly, the manager and coaches can only stand with your team if they are on the Photo Squad List, complete with their photo .

Communication has recently gone to all Team and Club Officials around the Match Result Card (MRC). Both teams need to complete an MRC after every game and this needs to be done within 5 days of the match taking place. Charges are issued for late MRCs on a sliding scale of fines dependant on how many late MRCs that a particular team has had: 1st time = £10, 2nd time = £20 & any subsequent occurrences = £30. It is not for your Divisional Secretary to remind you – although many do take time out to do this. It is for you to make sure this happens on time - and accurately.

It is never acceptable to publish the scores of development fixtures (U7 to U11); and care should be taken if sharing match reports on Club Pages or across Social Media.

DBS, Safeguarding & Coaches

The League have had several questions from Clubs around safeguarding that we have worked with Hampshire FA to clarify. The following provides guidance for Clubs and Teams – whilst not mandatory, we should all be aiming to ‘do football’ to the highest standard with ‘good practice’ as a cornerstone benchmark.

Question 1:

If a coach has obtained the FA accepted DBS and completed Safeguarding and First Aid but have yet to complete an Introduction to Coaching course, are they able to take a team, or do they need to have someone present who has done the Intro to Coaching until the course is completed?

Answer 1:

The FA requirements for affiliation and Safeguarding are that an NEHYL coach must hold an in-date and accepted FA DBS and Safeguarding for Children qualification.

It’s not a requirement for a coach to hold First Aid and/or coaching qualifications; however, we do ask that at least one coach per team holds First Aid and is present at all training sessions/matches, and that at least one coach per team holds the introduction to football or higher as best practice.

Question 2:

A team only has one coach available with DBS & Safeguarding; can the fixture go ahead?

Answer 2:

Regarding the number of coaches per team, the best practice is that there are at least two coaches per team, and we ask that clubs try and maintain that as much as they can throughout the season. The FA document here - provides guidance, and it is the Club's responsibility to follow this; we would expect that to be followed as much as possible by them, and that they understand their liability and responsibilities in following the guidance.

Kick-off Times, Venues & Referee Allocations

Can all managers and team admins take time to look at your home fixtures a couple of weeks out - and make sure you have updated your kick-off time and check the venue for the game is correct. If you aren’t sure how to do this there is a section on our very useful match admin page on our website here .

League kick off times should be between 9.30am and 1.00pm unless agreed with the opposition and clubs need to consider the distance/time the opposition needs to travel.

This will help not only your opposition but also the Referee Secretary when it comes to assigning a referee to your fixture. Referee allocations are also now easier to search to find out if you have an allocated referee here . League allocated officials must be used unless communicated with the Referee Secretary to ensure they are qualified. A reminder of the referee process can be found here .

Referees & Club Assistants

It is never acceptable for anyone to bawl or shout at a referee or an assistant referee. Ever. Full stop.

The league, our clubs and our referees really appreciate anyone who volunteers to step up as a Club Assistant on a matchday – as a reminder the basic instructions for of a club assistant are simply:

To be to be positioned on the 'left back touchline' of their team, always keeping in line with the 2nd rearmost defender
To assist the referee by indicating when the ball is out of play
To assist the referee by indicating when play should be stopped, following an offside offence.

At all times, it is the referee who is in charge - It is important that the Club Assistant offers assistance to the referee in line with the instructions above but NOT interference to the referee.

Key Dates

All key dates can be found on the calendar here . Don't forget you can subscribe to the NEHYL google calendar dates and to reminders for submitting MRCs .

Laws of the Game – Changes

FREE tickets to Aldershot Town FC for NEHYL Teams

If this of interest to your club or team then click the link below.

Free Aldershot Town FC Tickets →

USEFUL LINKS
Match Admin | FAQ's | Dates | Texting Results | MRC's | Resources | News | Referees

Let us know what you think...

If you have any ideas of information you would like to see in these newsletters or on our website, please email web@nehyl.org.uk

Silent Support Weekends

Tue, 21 Oct 2025 13:57:01 GMT

Silent Support Weekend Dates for Season 2025/26

Keep it positive. Enjoy the game!

This season, Silent Support Weekend is all about positive support. Quiet encouragement and applause for good play are welcome. But everything else can have the weekend off. During Silent Support Weekend, let’s all respect our players by giving them a space where they can all enjoy the game.

The NEHYL have signed up to the Silent Support Weekend for this season for the following dates:

15th & 16th November

14th & 15th March

Click here for resources and images to share with your club, managers and parents

Girls Flexi Festival on Sunday 19 October

Thu, 09 Oct 2025 14:14:06 GMT

Join NEHYL Girls for a fun, friendly festival!

Charlie's Promise Fundraiser

Thu, 18 Sep 2025 13:51:50 GMT

The Big Cycle - London to Paris by Don Brayshaw, Milford Pumas YFC

On the 1st October, a number of industry colleagues and I are cycling from London to Paris to raise money for individual charities of our choice.

I’m raising money for Charlie’s Promise whose mission is to educate young people about knife crime and its consequences . The charity was started by Charlie’s Dad, Martin Cosser, after 17 year old Charlie (a Milford Pumas Player), went to a house party in a Sussex village and was stabbed multiple times. Heartbreakingly, Charlie succumbed to his injuries 3 days later (though harrowing, I really recommend you read the account of events on the website).

The charity started in Charlie’s name is dedicated to helping the fight against the rising issue of knife crime in the UK by raising awareness of the dangers of both carrying and using a knife. If it’s possible, it’s made even more poignant from me, as Charlie played football for and his family were involved with, Milford Pumas YFC, a club at which I’ve coached at for almost 20 years.

If you could help this very worthy cause in any small way, Charlie’s Promise and I would be immensely grateful. Updates on our progress will be on my Instagram account and messages of support and encouragement will, I am sure, help us along the way.

Instagram @donniebrayshaw.

To donate: www.justgiving.com/page/don-brayshaw-1

Thank you for your support.

Don Brayshaw

Milford Pumas Coach

NEHYL Newsletter Snapshot #16

Wed, 10 Sep 2025 12:50:24 GMT

September 2025

Welcome everyone to the 2025-26 season – at North East Hants Youth League we are all looking forward to getting football back underway, and with everyone either playing, coaching or spectating doing so with Respect .

As is the case at the start of every season, we want to use this newsletter to draw everyone’s attention to some key pointers before we really get going so that everyone has chance to become familiar with any changes. We say it every time – but this website, should always be the go-to place to initially try and find answers to any questions you may have.

This season, the Football Association has announced an updated set of measures to help improve behaviour and combat misconduct in grassroots football. These interventions are aimed at driving a positive culture across grassroots football and act as a clear deterrent against unacceptable behaviours. They also form part of the ‘ Love Football. Protect The Game ’ campaign to introduce enhanced measures and tougher sanctions so that everyone can enjoy the game in a positive and enjoyable environment.

It’s always good to remind ourselves that everyone associated with NEHYL - be that league committee, club committees and volunteers, or team managers, coaches & admins – give up their time voluntarily to allow boys and girls to enjoy playing football. Let’s all embrace the mindset that ‘We only do positive’ .

Match Day Administration

There are several changes to the match day process. If you want a refresher to the overall Admin Process then everything is laid out clearly on our Match Admin page - but the key changes are as follows:

Team Sheets

The most important rule change is around Match Day Team Sheets and ID parades – Rule 8D refers:

Match Day Team Sheets MUST have players listed with their (unique) shirt numbers
Manager/Coaches MUST be named
You MUST have your Photo Squad List with you for every match – it’s available on line, or can be downloaded beforehand, so surely there can be no excuses…
A photo ID parade is no longer mandatory – but if a team so wishes then they can request to do an ID parade before kick-off, which cannot be refused
If a name AND photo are not on the Photo Squad list, then a player cannot play, and a coach cannot stand on the side of the pitch with the teams.

Our advice is that when you greet your opposing manager you show that you have the Photo Squad List, highlight who your coaches are (named & pictured), agree whether you are going to have an ID parade, and then start your match preparations.

The updated Match Day Team Sheets available on the Information page on this website in three formats (pdf, xls, & doc). We also ask that clubs check that all your coaches are not just named but also have a current photo provided – there are several officials who do not currently have a photo across all the age groups.

Players Kit

And, as a reminder to all, NEHYL Rule 19 has two important points relating to players kit for all our clubs and teams:

Names of Youth Players shall not appear on the shirts.
No Player, including the goalkeeper, shall be permitted to wear black or very dark shirts.

Laws of the Game – Changes

IFAB are the guardians of the Laws of the Game, comprising of four British football associations (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) and FIFA. The key changes for the 2025/26 season include a new eight-second rule for goalkeepers; the "captains only" protocol; and around dropped ball restarts – and you can view a summary of the changes to the Laws of the Game here: Changes of Laws of the Game 2025/26 .

Goalkeeper Eight-Second Rule

 The Rule:

A goalkeeper controlling the ball with their hand(s)/arm(s) within their penalty area must release it within eight seconds. A goalkeeper cannot be challenged by an opponent when in control of the ball.

The Penalty:

If the goalkeeper holds the ball for longer than eight seconds, a corner kick is awarded to the opposing team.

The Process:

From the five-second mark, referees will visually count down with a raised hand to signal the time limit. Please give referees time to get used to doing this!

Captains Only Protocol

The Rule:

Only the designated captain(s) of a team are permitted to approach the referee to discuss decisions. Read more about the rule HERE.

The Purpose:

To instil greater fairness and mutual respect in the game by reducing confrontations and potential intimidation.

The Captain's Role:

Captains must ensure their teammates maintain a reasonable distance and do not interfere in the interaction with the referee. They must be wearing a Captain’s Armband.

Note: For NEHYL, the Captains Only Protocol only applies to Competitive football (U12 and above).

Dropped Ball Restarts

New rules clarify how dropped ball restarts are conducted based on possession and location.

Play always resumes by dropping the ball for the defending team's goalkeeper where play stopped within their penalty area.

When outside the penalty area, the ball is dropped to a player from the team that would gain possession, unless this is unclear, in which case it goes to the last team to touch the ball.

All other players must stay at least 4 meters away, and the ball is in play once it touches the ground.

NEHYL Girls’ Football

Girls’ football continues to go from strength to strength in NEHYL, with matches played on Sunday mornings. We will be running U7 through to U11 age groups – plus girls’ flexi football for girls who just want to play from U12 upwards; more information on flexi football can be found here .

It’s really exciting to share that our Girls’ Sunday League has been approved by the FA as an early adopter for the new 3v3 format a year ahead of its full rollout in 26-27 season for ALL U7s. We will be piloting the new FA initiative this season for all girls’ teams playing in U7 in our Sunday league – which gives all of us a great opportunity to learn more about this initiative.

For more information on NEHYL Girls’ Football click here or email girls@nehyl.org.uk . And if you are ready to join, you can register your club here or if you are already a member club, email girls@nehyl.org.uk to add a team.

Play Safe Weekend

Play Safe is a year-round campaign that champions the importance of safeguarding in football. It encourages leagues and clubs at every level of the game to play their part in making the game ever-safer, fun, and enjoyable for everyone, everywhere, every time. At NEHYL, we are encouraging all clubs to show their support for an ever-safer game and take part in Play Safe 2025, taking place over the weekend of 27 and 28 September 2025 . Club officials will already have received a link to this year’s invite from the FA – and there are further resources here .

We also ask that you mark the two National Silent Support Weekends in your football diaries - November 15th & 16th and March 14th & 15th . The aim of the National Silent Support Weekend is to reduce pressure on youth players and give them a better opportunity and environment to find their own voice, improve their on-pitch communications skills, develop their own game, and most importantly have fun. We also believe that it helps to promote good behaviour on touchlines across youth football. Check out the England Football page for resources and future updates for the next Silent Support weekend.

Key Dates

All key dates can be found on the calendar here . Don't forget you can subscribe to the NEHYL google calendar dates and to reminders for submitting MRCs .

The FA Player Dispensation Process

Player Dispensation enables children with a disability, Significant Physical Development Delay (SPDD), or who are schooled no more than one year behind the age group prescribed by their date of birth (their “prescribed age group”) to play football outside of their prescribed age group.

The latest information on Player Dispensation and how to apply can be found on our website here .

Laws of the Game – Changes

Hampshire Sports Club Conference

Eastleigh Borough Council and Test Valley Borough Council are working in partnership to proudly present the biannual Hampshire Club Conference 2025 – and which is being promoted by Hampshire FA.

Tickets are £10 and will provide you with a delegate pack, including a quality Hampshire Sports Club Conference notebook, pen and lanyard. You will also have access to tea and coffee on arrival, alongside light refreshments during the networking session. You can find out more about this event on our website here .

FREE tickets to Aldershot Town FC for NEHYL Teams

If this of interest to your club or team then click the link below.

Free Aldershot Town FC Tickets →

Hampshire FA Discipline

Hampshire FA is now using The FA’s County FA Discipline Service – which means that there are key changes as to how disciplinary matters will be handled. In short, all disciplinary administration will now be managed centrally by The FA’s County FA Discipline Service team, who will be responsible for:

All disciplinary investigations
Preparing case files
Raising charges
Arranging hearings
Liaising with victims
Administering suspensions
Delivering discipline services that meet the needs of customers

Surrey FA will continue to handle and manage all their own disciplinary matters.

USEFUL LINKS
Match Admin | FAQ's | Dates | Texting Results | MRC's | Resources | News | Referees

Let us know what you think...

If you have any ideas of information you would like to see in these newsletters or on our website, please email web@nehyl.org.uk

The FA Player Dispensation Process

Thu, 04 Sep 2025 07:52:30 GMT

Latest information on Player Dispensation & how to apply

What is the dispensation application policy?

The Policy enables children with a disability, Significant Physical Development Delay (SPDD),Mental Health, Chronic illness, Issues with availability, special individual circumstances or who are schooled no more than one year behind the age group prescribed by their date of birth (their “prescribed age group”) to play football outside of their prescribed age group.

Why is this policy needed?

The FA’s Rules prescribe age groups for children to play in which are designed to ensure that they compete with peers of similar size and development. For some children however, playing in the prescribed age group would put them at a substantial disadvantage to their teammates, discouraging them from being involved or making it impossible for them to access football.

To apply for dispensation for your child to play outside of their prescribed age group, please fill out our dispensation application form along with supporting evidence to support the rationale for your application.

Who is covered by the policy?

Any child who:

Has a disability
Has significant physical development delay ( SPDD)
Has mental health or Chronic illness
Is schooled no more then one year behind their prescribed age group and would be be at a disadvantage if required to play to in their prescribed age group
Availability of Opportunity; Those who have no available opportunity within their permitted age group and chosen pathway (male, female, mixed, disability). You can find out more information around this new category along with further examples of who is eligible under availability of opportunity
Talent Development; Those who have individual and specific needs, to play outside of their permitted age group provides them with the best opportunity to develop as a player that is within the talent system (girls) or has been recently released (boys). You can find out more information around the new individual needs category along with who is eligible – Click here

Hampshire Sports Club Conference

Thu, 04 Sep 2025 07:44:02 GMT

Monday 24th November at Ganger Farm Sports Park, Romsey

Eastleigh Borough Council and Test Valley Borough Council are working in partnership to proudly present the biannual Hampshire Club Conference 2025.

The evening is designed to empower local sports clubs with the tools, insights, and connections needed to grow and develop.

The event will consist of an expert panel discussion with:

Andy Ferrier - Chief Executive at Test Valley Borough Council
Jessica Capelli Beavan - Equity, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Manager at UK Coaching
Sacha Nicholas - Facilities & Investment Manager at Hampshire FA
Sarah Goddard and Sue Forber - Sports Welfare Officers at Energise Me
Getting Investment Ready with Richard Wood - Leisure Services Manager at Eastleigh Borough Council
Marketing and Social Media with Wates Residential

Tickets are on sale from 15th September.

U12+ Girls’ Flexi Matches From 28th Sep 2025

Mon, 01 Sep 2025 08:17:48 GMT

Open to all clubs and communities to start a new girls flexi football team

Teams can play when they want in a friendly fun format and can be run by a parent or teacher if the team isn’t part of an existing club and support will be given.

Aimed at girls teams and players

New to football and who are not experienced enough to play competitive football in Hampshire and Surrey leagues.

Not suitable for

Teams who are confident and strong enough to play competitive football but are struggling for players.

Reasons to enter a team

Opening the door for local girls to learn football in a supportive environment.
Perfect entry level football for girls who are new to the game, as an alternative to having to play 9 or 11 aside matches with offside.
We want to break down the barriers and encourage everyone to simply have a go and have some fun with friends.

Format: Easy – Flexible – Fun

For players starting football or who are looking to build confidence.
Festivals every 3 weeks
Option for friendlies as well
Teams choose how many games a month they want to play.
Non-competitive 7 aside matches, with no offside.
Teams can start by playing 5 or 6 aside matches while they increase their squad size.

We can also help girls to find a club that champions girls’ football.

For more information please contact Andrew Hall 07355 006716 or email GirlsFlexiLeague@nehyl.org.uk .

Learn more about Girls Football at NEHYL →

The FA behaviour and combat misconduct measures

Fri, 22 Aug 2025 10:43:10 GMT

The Football Association has announced an updated set of measures for the 2025-26 season to help improve behaviour and combat misconduct in grassroots football.

These interventions, introduced for the 2025-26 season, are aimed at driving a positive culture across grassroots football and act as a clear deterrent against unacceptable behaviours. They also form part of the ‘Love Football. Protect The Game’ campaign to introduce enhanced measures and tougher sanctions so that everyone can enjoy the game in a positive and enjoyable environment.

Key updates for the 2025-26 season include:

Captains Only protocol
Cooling off periods
Bodycams
Under-18 Referee Armbands
Penalty points accumulations to continue
Continued league points deductions
Grassroots Code of Conduct
Rewarding Positive Behaviour
Mandatory minimum fine
Behaviour Improvement Programme

Read the full article here →

The FA's Play Safe & Bib Voting

Tue, 19 Aug 2025 09:44:31 GMT

Play Safe Weekend Sept 27th to 28th - Supporting Safeguarding & Getting Feedback

What is Play Safe?

Small Talk is Bigger Than You Think

For Play Safe 2025, The FA asking adults in football to give young people a voice. To create open conversations, ask questions, and actively listen to children. When children have space to talk, they feel safe to share. Small but vital moments build trust in the long run.

How to get your club involved

Here’s three simple things you can do:

1. Sign up and enter the free prize draw

The FA are keen to know which clubs are supporting Play Safe 2025 and what you are planning to do. So please sign up and let us know – you get the chance to enter the free prize draw with the chance of your club receiving one of the 100 prizes! Sign up here

2. Spread the word

Talk to people at your club about Play Safe. Make sure members know what it is, what this year’s campaign is all about, how they can get involved, and what their individual safeguarding roles are. In this letter, The FA have provided a Play Safe kick-off pack , full of useful resources for you to share online or put up around your club. It includes:

Email headers and signatures – everyone who runs your club can use these as headers and footers in their club emails.
Social media assets – these can be used in social posts or stories on Instagram, Facebook and/or X. We’ve also attached guidance on how to upload them.
Editable social assets – you can include your own club badge on these, but if you use any pictures, it’s essential to make sure you have the right consents in place.
Website assets – we’ve included a web header and written text you can use on your club website.

Play Safe Activation Bib Voting

This year’s focus - Small Talk Is Bigger Than You Think - is about creating environments where children and young people feel empowered and listened to. Ahead of the Play Safe weekend try out ‘Bib Voting’ a simple activity to start the little conversations . This activity encourages children and young people to share their experiences in a safe, fun, and nonverbal way. It aims to help coaches listen and adapt sessions while building confidence in giving feedback.

Simply follow the steps for the age group(s) you are working with ( download 5-11 yrs or download 12-16 yrs ). We’d recommend doing this 3-4 times ahead of the Play Safe weekend, selecting different questions each time. There will be additional activities provided in September – so why not get started.

On 27/28 September, all of football will unite to celebrate our collective safeguarding effort throughout the season.

This year, The FA want as many leagues, clubs, and individuals as possible to show up for the weekend and celebrate everyone who plays a role in giving children a voice.

Visit: www.englandfootball.com/playsafe for more information and news.

Aviva Wellbeing Services

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 14:18:29 GMT

Offer for individuals who have purchased Aviva Personal Accident insurance through Club Portal

Hampshire FA have provided the below leaflet. All levels of the personal accident insurance include the wellbeing service and the leaflet gives details of the Aviva new fully enhanced wellbeing proposition which includes physical, financial and mental wellbeing add-ons such as gym discounts, dedicated counselling line and leaders’ mental health training.

HFA Online Discipline Meeting - 27th August 2025

Thu, 07 Aug 2025 13:41:24 GMT

The County are scheduling an online meeting with the FA Discipline Account Manager, Ollie Powell.

Please see below details of this meeting.

Wednesday 27th August 2025

6:30pm-8:30pm

Microsoft Teams - Teams link to be sent nearer the date to club/league secretaries who have confirmed their attendance.

Send any questions and register your attendance by email to Declan.Hellyer@hampshirefa.com by Wednesday 13th August 2025.

More information regarding the changes here .

HFA Partners with The FA's CFA Discipline Service Team

Mon, 28 Jul 2025 07:51:08 GMT

Changes for Season 2025/26

Here at Hampshire FA, we're always striving to enhance the services we provide to our grassroots football community. We are excited to announce a significant change to how discipline administration will be managed, designed to deliver a more efficient, consistent, and supportive experience for everyone involved.

From 1st August 2025, Hampshire FA will be outsourcing its discipline administration to a dedicated County FA Discipline Service Team within The FA. This strategic move will centralise key disciplinary functions, leveraging the expertise and resources of the national governing body to streamline processes and ensure the highest standards of service delivery.

This change is designed to benefit our clubs, leagues, and volunteers by ensuring a more consistent and expert approach to disciplinary matters. You will now be interacting directly with The FA's County FA Discipline Service Team for all discipline-related queries and processes.

Learn more about the new process here →

We believe this partnership with The FA's County FA Discipline Service Team will significantly enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of our disciplinary processes, allowing us to focus more on the growth and development of football within Hampshire FA. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we implement this exciting new chapter.

Darren Parker

Hampshire FA

You can also read more about the NEHYL Discipline Panel here →

Presentation Gallery Published

Tue, 24 Jun 2025 11:45:06 GMT

NEHYL Presentations were a roaring success!

The sound of young players roaring with excitement as the curtains pulled back to reveal the trophies on the first night made all the hard work by the league officials worth it!

Massive thanks to Sue Barnes who organises a lot of the evening from picking up trophies to seat allocation - not an easy task!

The presentation galleries by day can be found here:

Thanks to Jake Ward at JW Media Online for taking hundreds of pictures over the four days.

"I wanted to say a massive thank you from Badshot Lea Hawks U9s for such a brilliant evening last week. Our boys had a fantastic time and enjoyed the presentation thoroughly. The trophies look great and the evening seemed to run like clockwork. Thanks again to all involved and hopefully we will be back next year!"

"Thank you what a brilliant evening"

"I attended the U13s - it was brilliant so thank you very much."

"Just wanted to say a massive thank you from me and Headley Hotspurs for putting on last night's presentation evening. Please pass this on to everyone who was involved in putting the event on. It was a superb evening and was brilliant to celebrate the success of all the local teams together. Enjoy your summer break and we look forward to next season."

"Thanks so much for a great awards evening. Our team is only in our second season and all the players only started playing in a team very recently, so it was lovely for them to have this experience."

JOIN NEHYL NEW ALL GIRLS’ U7 3V3 FORMAT

Thu, 19 Jun 2025 11:36:41 GMT

North East Hampshire Girls Sunday League has been approved by the FA as an early adopter for the new 3v3 format a year ahead of its rollout in 26-27 season.

NEHYL Girls League will be piloting the new FA initiative this season 25-26 for all girls’ teams playing in U7 in our Sunday league.

To get on board and find out more the FA are running a workshop for our member clubs on Sunday 13th of July at Fleet Town FC, Easy As HGV Stadium, Calthorpe Park, 8A Crookham Rd, Fleet GU51 5DZ. Registration 9am close 5pm.

This is a great opportunity to find out more and get some practical support and put the theory into practice.

Contact Suzanne Swan via email at girls@nehyl.org.uk or register directly using the following link Delegate (Coaches & Adult Facilitators) Registration Form .

Learn more and download resources on our 3v3 Format information page here .

NEHYL Club Registrations Open for Season 2025-26

Thu, 10 Apr 2025 13:46:20 GMT

Register or Renew Your Club with NEHYL

The Club Application for 2025/26 is now open. Here are a few notes:

You no longer need to upload the signed Rule 10 document - but you need to have the authority to tick the Rule 10 agreement digitally on behalf of the Chair and Club.
For renewing clubs - you will be able to pull up last season’s application by ticking ‘Yes’ on the Pre-fill form field (which appears after you enter your Club Name). Note this requires a code being entered to protect personal data and the code will be emailed to the Club Secretary registered for this season. So if a new Club Secretary is taking over you will need to send them the code. Please only get the new Club Sec to complete the form when they are in position as emails for the club will start going to them. They will also need to have registered on the NEHYL Contacts System and you should inform web@nehyl.org.uk of the change.
You will need the Membermojo Member Number (NEHYL Contacts System) for all four main committee roles (this will be saved from last year if you pre-fill the form but please check it is correct by viewing your directory here ).
You will need to know the number of teams per age group being registered with NEHYL for next season.

If you or your club are not continuing next season, please email web@nehyl.org.uk to let us know. If teams are not continuing please email you Divisional Secretary - contact info can be found here .

Please register or renew your club for Season 2025/26 here .

NEHYL Newsletter Snapshot #15

Fri, 21 Mar 2025 17:56:12 GMT

March 2025

This season is heading into its final stages with the majority of fixtures finishing at the end of April/Early May. That leaves May for cup finals and any league play off matches that may be required to determine first and second spots. With the lighter evenings there are several teams in the older age groups looking at organising midweek fixtures to help clear their fixture backlog – if you do look to bring a match forward or try to fit a previously postponed fixture into an evening slot then do keep your Divisional Secretary in the loop.

We’ve included a few housekeeping reminders in this newsletter – as well as some dates for diaries and pointers towards some important new initiatives that are soon to be introduced across junior football.

As ever, there is a wealth of information on this website – so if you are ever unsure about anything around the league then this should be your go to first port of call.

Match Day Reminders

It may be nearing the end of the season but it’s never too late to remind everyone of some key housekeeping before and after matches.

Referees

As a league who appoint referees to as many matches as possible, we have a panel of registered referees which is a County FA requirement. Once appointments are published it is the home team’s responsibility to contact the official as soon as possible to confirm their availability and share details of location and kick-off time.

However, if you do not have an appointed referee then there are several ways in which teams are able to source a referee. We do emphasise that you must check that the referee you source is qualified and, if over 16 years old, has a valid DBS and in-date FA Safeguarding – the league referee appointments secretary (Phil Rush) is able to help check if he is contacted by telephone before Friday.

If you are unable to source a qualified referee, then it is acceptable for a parent to occasionally take the whistle (with occasionally being no more than once a month).

Results

It is the responsibility of every team, whether home or away, to text in the result of your match as soon as practical after the final whistle (and at least on the day of the match). The MRC – Match Report Card – also needs completing within five days of the match. The level of non-compliance in this regard has risen this season to what is becoming unacceptable – serial offenders can start to expect to have their matches suspended on top of an increasing fine structure.

If you are playing a Double Header then you will need to complete two MRCs – one for each match, home & away – and it is strongly recommended that, as well as texting in the scores, you also drop your Div Sec a note of the results of each match.

Referees Kit & Timekeeping

We ask that all referees are recognisable as a referee with Black Shirt, Black Shorts and Black Socks. There’s no issue wearing black under clothing – but we do draw the line at puffer jackets and hoodies which are not considered suitable.

And finally, a referee should be ready at their match at least 20 minutes before kick-off to do the necessary pitch checks and team briefings. If a referee has a prior match – either refereeing or playing – then they must let the home team manager know when confirming their availability.

Cup Finals

Well done to all our teams who make it to one of our Cup Finals. The dates for Cup Finals are now locked in for all age groups and Div Secs will confirm venue, dates and kick off times with teams in due course.

For every Cup Final we will produce a printed programme as a souvenir of the occasion – so do make sure you have that team photo available to go into the programme !

Presentation Evenings

The season always has its finale with Presentation Evenings across all age groups at Princes Hall, Aldershot. The dates and times for each age group are published here and this year we span four evenings from 17th to 20th June.

Key League Meeting Dates

Whilst on the subject of dates, we ask that clubs note that the NEHYL Annual General Meeting will be held on the 10th June; and the pre-season meeting on the 29th August . It is vital that every club is represented on both occasions which will be held at Princes Hall, Aldershot.

Tournament Listings

The league maintains a list of future tournaments in date order – if you want your tournament to be listed then submit your request to the league using the Tournament Request form . Once a submission is approved, the published tournament can be found here .

IMPORTANT - League & Cup Competitions will run into May – ALL league/cup fixtures take precedence over club trips and tournaments. Any team who enters a tournament and then does not fulfil a scheduled league or cup fixture will face a charge and a fine for failing to fulfil a fixture.

Laws of the Game – Changes

Looking ahead to 2025/26 Season

As one season draws to a close, significant planning starts for the next season. As a league we always aim to ensure that teams are playing at their correct level. A starting point for this is ensuring that Div Secs are aware of any major changes impacting teams. It may be that a club is merging one or more teams together; that a team is not returning next season; or there is significant player churn.

Please, if any of these situations apply to your team then let your Div Sec know – for competitive age groups this will help ensure Divisional structures are correct from the start and could signal the need for initial InterDiv or Seeding games to be scheduled.

FREE tickets to Aldershot Town FC for NEHYL Teams

If this of interest to your club or team then click the link below.

Free Aldershot Town FC Tickets →

FA Future Fit

From the start of the 2026-27 season, The FA will be launching a new progressive framework for grassroots youth football in England, which aims to further improve the experience for young players across the country – giving them more time on the ball, more time on the pitch and increasing their physical activity levels. The changes being implemented can be found here .

As a league we are fully supportive of this new framework and will be working with clubs in the season ahead to ensure we are best placed to hit the ground running with the changes.

Grassroots Football Awards

It would be great to see more of our football volunteers from North East Hampshire nominated for the FA Grassroots Awards – now is the time to make nominations here .

It is important to remember that it’s not the number of nominations per category for a person or an organisation that matter – the judges are looking for good robust nominations that follow the key points highlighted in each category.

There are 12 categories in the awards – why not take a look if you believe someone at your club or who you know associated with grassroots football is deserving of a nomination?

DBS Process Changes

The FA have changed the way Clubs add DBS to individuals – Clubs now need to add a DBS Applicant via the Club Portal which initiates the start of a DBS check. There’s more information here .

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The FA Future Fit: County FA Roadshow Hampshire

Thu, 13 Mar 2025 17:54:39 GMT

March 21st 7 to 8:30pm in Winchester

A new 3v3 entry format for the youngest players in the pathway at U7s level, fielding three players on each side, to maximise engagement and provide the best introduction to football.
Each format will be played one year later as players transition through the pathway, including 11v11 which will move from U13s to U14s level.
Greater alignment with schools with children playing smaller formats with simplified rules throughout primary school, before progressing to 9v9 and more complex rules at secondary school.
Evolved Laws of the Game that are age-appropriate and best support the overall development of the young player. For example, amendments have already been made to game restarts for U7s-U9s to increase ball in play time

In the coming weeks The FA are hosting 46 events across the country providing stakeholders with the opportunity to learn more about the recently announced changes. Hampshire FA’s event details are below:

Future Fit: County FA Roadshow (Hampshire)

Venue : Voco Winchester Hotel and Spa, Telegraph Way, Winchester, Hampshire, SO21 1HZ

Date & Time : March 21st from 7.00-8.30pm

Sign Up Link : https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/b0fdc02637ef4fd1b0c2137557c6860b

Other Useful Information:

Future Fit: Online Event – Watch the Future Fit Online event here (or below) where Paul Kirton from Team Grassroots discusses with Clare, John and Lawrence from The FA, the upcoming changes being made to Youth Football across England in the 2026/27 season. The FA encourage you to share this with your members to help in their understanding of the upcoming changes.

Future Fit: Early Adopter Webinar – There will be a follow up webinar on Wednesday April 9th at 7.30pm which will provide further information for those who wish to be considered for early adoption. This will provide more detail on what will be required and what support will be made available ahead of expression of interest then going live. You can register to attend here .

SILENT SUPPORT WEEKEND 15-16 MARCH

Tue, 18 Feb 2025 13:09:43 GMT

Silent Support Weekend is back

Once again, we’re asking spectators to dial down the noise from the sidelines and dial up the positivity. Let’s cut out the confusing and distracting shouting from the sidelines. Instead, let’s respect our players by helping them find their voices, make their own choices, and enjoy their game.

Silent Support is positive support

During Silent Support Weekend, applause from spectators for good play – and quiet encouragement from coaches – is welcome. Everything else can have the weekend off.

View the resources below to help you share information about silent support at your fixture.

Changes to DBS Process

Tue, 04 Feb 2025 13:47:19 GMT

The FA have changed the way Clubs add DBS to individuals

Step 1:

This process now needs to be completed through the Club portal by the club admin - Adding a DBS Applicant in the Club Portal - Initiating a DBS check : Grassroots Technology

Step 2:

Once the club admin has added the DBS tab to the FAN, the individual needs to carry out the below process:

Log on to the Whole Game System https://wholegame.thefa.com
Scroll down to 'My DBS tab' (left hand side)
Click green 'Select' button next to the club name.
You should then receive an email (check spam) to start the process, once the application has been completed you need to contact the Welfare officer to meet with them to verify the DBS face to face.

Troubleshooting: Reasons why the coach cannot start the process:

More than one FAN – contact your county FA Safeguarding Administrator with the coaches name, DOB, email and address so they can check and if need be merge the FANs.
No email on the FAN – contact your county FA Safeguarding Administrator to add if you cannot add this on their FAN on the club portal
Not attached to your club on the club portal

NEHYL Newsletter Snapshot #14

Thu, 09 Jan 2025 17:37:55 GMT

January 2025

Happy New Year!

And 2025 has brought a very wintry start to playing football with frozen pitches and sub-zero temperatures – and very little football able to be played…so it’s a good time to remind everyone that it is really important to make sure when matches are postponed due to weather that we need to let everyone know of the decision as soon as possible – opposition, referee and Div Sec – and both teams must reply to the FA FullTime SMS text with simply P-P for any postponed match.

January is also the time when the League are looking for last season’s trophies to be gathered up and safely returned to Sue Barnes by 31st January at the latest. Club Secretaries have all the necessary details as to how to return the trophies – so, if you do have a trophy proudly displayed from last season then please liaise with your Club Secretary to agree logistics of getting it safely returned.

Whilst still a couple of months away, now is a good time to flag that the deadline for new player registrations and player transfers is midnight on Saturday 1st March. And it is essential between now and then that you continue to flag any new registrations or transfers to the age group Div Sec – they don’t have a crystal ball (or receive any sort of system notification) to tell them when a player awaits their approval.

As ever, there is a wealth of information on our website – so if you are ever unsure about anything around the league then this should be your go to first port of call.

Missing Match Day Information

The League has been aware of several incidents this season where teams have needed vital information to be available on match day. Many clubs provide excellent match day information – much more than just kick-off time and pitch location – but there is more some clubs and their teams can do.

We strongly urge all clubs and teams to look at the match day information you provide to your opposition (as well as to your own team players and supporters). Best practice is to include the nearest A&E department; location of the nearest defibrillator; and how to always get hold of gate keys and/or codes. Ensure the postcode is sufficient to find the pitch in an emergency – or better still provide a What3Words location.

If there is an emergency of any sort at your match, do you have all the correct information to hand to be able to quickly deal with it and ensure prompt – possibly lifesaving - action can be taken?

(Re)-Introducing Saturday / Sunday Club Representatives

Did you know at NEHYL, our clubs & teams are represented at all monthly league committee meetings? If not, the following will introduce (or re-introduce) you to the role of ‘Club Representative’ and what they do, and can do, for you.

There are currently five Club Representatives; Paul Reynolds, Rhys Culverhouse, Darryl Taylor, Polly Roberts and Andrew Hall. Paul, Rhys & Darryl all represent the Saturday mixed teams; Polly & Andrew the Sunday girls’ teams.

The backgrounds of our Club Representatives are varied but they all come from club or footballing backgrounds having played the game; coached or managed teams; have held committee positions within a club; or referee across differing age groups. With this mix of experience and backgrounds they are well equipped to understand the challenges faced by our members during the year. Ultimately, the Club Representatives are here to represent the needs of the clubs, ensuring you have a voice into the League Committee and age group Divisional Secretaries.

A Club Representative can influence and shape a wide range of relevant topics including input into rule changes, discipline, supporting referees, helping Divisional Secretary in times of increased workload, supporting festivals/competitions/cup finals, mentoring and being at the end of a call or email should a club (or team) wish to check or discuss anything, including providing a second opinion.

Club representatives are here to support, help, guide and advise as required – and their profiles can be found on the contact page here .

Mini-Soccer Update

For the U7 to U10 age groups we have been following the new “No Deliberate Heading” laws since the start of the season – this was covered in the England Football link back in May 2024 (ref: new rule to be introduced to phase out heading in grassroots youth football matches ) and on our website here .

As part of this initiative throw-ins were replaced with either a Dribble-In or Pass-In – as is the case for any free-kicks for mini-soccer, the opposition must be 5 yards/4.5 metres away from where the Dribble-In or Pass-In is to be taken.

A pass-in is not a big kick up field; it should be to another player – so, if this is not followed do expect the Referee to ask the player to retake the Pass-In.

The following resources from the England Football helps explain further:

Girls’ Football

Girls’ football is continuing to thrive here at NEHYL – we have recently welcomed several new U7, U8 and U9 teams. And we are looking for more of our clubs to consider entering girls’ teams in our Sunday morning Flexi league. It is aimed at teams and players that are new to football and not experienced enough to play 11 a-side fixtures in the competitive Hampshire and Surrey leagues.

For U12s and U13s, the matches are non-competitive 7 aside games with no offside. Teams play in the monthly Festivals and have additional friendlies as required. The next girls’ U12 and U13 Festival will take place on Sunday 2 February. Please contact Andrew Hall on 07355 006716 or email girlsflexileague@nehyl.org.uk if you are interested in taking part.

Laws of the Game – Changes

U8 to U11 Development Festivals

Festival Competitions are held for all Under 8 to Under 11 age groups. This season we have two different Festival formats – the Festival Cup Competition and the Festival Divisional Competition. To help teams better understand the key differences between the two formats an explanatory note has been drafted and can be found here on our website .

In short, there will be one Festival Cup Competition per U8 to U11 age group this season (For both Mixed & Girls teams) – these will be held in the Spring. And, new for this season, there is a Festival Divisional Competition for Mixed U9 to U11 teams – this has already started, is held across the season, with generally one match played per month.

FREE tickets to Aldershot Town FC for NEHYL Teams

If this of interest to your club or team then click the link below.

Free Aldershot Town FC Tickets →

U23 Football

This season has seen the successful start of an U23 Development League, run by the Aldershot & District Football League (ADFL) with support from NEHYL – the majority of the teams playing in this league were formed from NEHYL U18 teams & players who want to continue to play Saturday football.

The ADFL is actively seeking U23 teams to join next season to grow the U23 Development League and help U18 to U23 players on their pathway to adult football. Are you a qualified coach or manager looking for a new challenge? Do you know U18 players who want to continue playing football? Aldershot & District Football League can help – if you want to find out more then click here or email u23@adfl.org.uk

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If you have any ideas of information you would like to see in these newsletters or on our website, please email web@nehyl.org.uk

NEHYL Latest News

2026 Presentation Gallery Published

"Thanks for all of your hard work organising the awards ceremony. It was a great evening."

Huge thanks to the Divisional Secretaries who have worked hard voluntarily throughout the season and special thanks to Sue Barnes who organises the trophies and the presentation nights.

The sound of young players roaring with excitement as the curtains pulled back to reveal the trophies on the first night made all the hard work by the league officials worth it!

Massive thanks to Sue Barnes who organises a lot of the evening from picking up trophies to seat allocation - not an easy task!

"Thanks for all of your hard work organising the awards ceremony. It was a great evening."

- Adam (Manor Colts Royals U13s)

"On behalf of myself, the players, coaches and the parents of the Loddon Cobras, I want to say a huge thank you for last night and everything that goes into the event itself.

We really enjoyed the atmosphere, presentation and the chance to celebrate all together again.

Thank you - and hopefully see you next season!"

- Rob (Loddon Sports U16)

Registrations and Renewals Open for 2026/27

Preparation for Season 2026/27 has begun

NEHYL Girls Sunday League will offer football to U12+

NEHYL Girls Sunday League Goes from Strength to Strength

Girls' Teams at the 2024/25 Presentations

Next 3v3 Taster Event - Saturday 18th April

NEHYL is hosting another next 3v3 taster

18th April 2026 at 11am

Badshot Lea Youth FC, Weybourne Recreation Ground, Weybourne Lane, Weybourne, Farnham GU9 9HJ

All Parking at William Cobbett Primary School

NEHYL Future Fit Events

Upcoming 3v3 Events with NEHYL

3v3 Festival & HFA Education event on 12th April 2026 at 8:45am at Cody Sports Club

Other Events

FutureFit - March Update

Updates from The FA: Events & Funding for Goals

3v3 Showcase Events

3v3 Goals Funding

Digital Clubs Conference

Under 6 Age Group Players

Club Survey

Rise of Abuse

NEHYL has zero tolerance of verbal & physical abuse

Luis Gabriel Guembes Testimonial Match

Churt U16 Vipers and Mytchett Athletic U16 Kestrels at Farnborough FC

NEHYL Newsletter Snapshot #18

February 2026

Silent Support Weekend

Pass-Ins / Dribble-Ins – Guidance for Coaches and Referees

Match Day & Discipline “Cheat Sheet”

Postponed & Abandoned Matches

Cup Finals

Presentation Evenings

Key Dates

Laws of the Game – Changes

Referee Availability

FREE tickets to Aldershot Town FC for NEHYL Teams

FA FutureFit

Girls U7 3x3 Festivals

USEFUL LINKS Match Admin | FAQ's | Dates | Texting Results | MRC's | Resources | News | Referees

Let us know what you think...

Silent Support Weekend - 14th & 15th March

Down goes your noise, up goes their game!

7 in 10 people said Silent Support improves bad behaviour on the sidelines. And helps young players to enjoy their game without distraction from the sidelines.

Free tickets to ATFC

Shots Foundation Free Tickets for selected fixtures up to April

Take Action. Protect The Game.

This month, The FA are running a national campaign that shows grassroots football Reporting Hate Protects the Game.

Educate your clubs and yourself on how to protect the game and reduce hate and discrimination as well as reporting it when it happens here .

Click the images below for more resources and information. Enough is enough!

NEHYL Newsletter Snapshot #17

November 2025

Silent Support Weekend

FA FutureFit – U7 Football

Match Day Administration

DBS, Safeguarding & Coaches

Kick-off Times, Venues & Referee Allocations

Referees & Club Assistants

Key Dates

Laws of the Game – Changes

FREE tickets to Aldershot Town FC for NEHYL Teams

USEFUL LINKS Match Admin | FAQ's | Dates | Texting Results | MRC's | Resources | News | Referees

Let us know what you think...

Silent Support Weekends

Silent Support Weekend Dates for Season 2025/26

Keep it positive. Enjoy the game!

Girls Flexi Festival on Sunday 19 October

Join NEHYL Girls for a fun, friendly festival!

USEFUL LINKS
Match Admin | FAQ's | Dates | Texting Results | MRC's | Resources | News | Referees

USEFUL LINKS
Match Admin | FAQ's | Dates | Texting Results | MRC's | Resources | News | Referees

USEFUL LINKS
Match Admin | FAQ's | Dates | Texting Results | MRC's | Resources | News | Referees