Sad news that the league has finally folded and won't be running this year. Young lads just don't seem interested anymore.
Looks like a few teams have joined the Burnley league so probably good news for them in the long run. Should probably have merged the leagues already the way things were heading.

It's not financially viable in part due to PBC pitch fees increasing year after year. I wouldn't necessarily attribute it to the lads not being interested as some seem quite distraught about the league folding.

The state of grass pitches in the winter doesn't help with continuity and getting the lad's into a routine.

Jakubclaret wrote: ↑

Tue Aug 06, 2024 4:28 pm

It's not financially viable in part due to PBC pitch fees increasing year after year. I wouldn't necessarily attribute it to the lads not being interested as some seem quite distraught about the league folding.

I enjoyed the 4 years I played in it, finished top 2 every year but never won a cup.
Pitches terrible, games called off for frozen pitches that were fine, burnley games ko changes, later licensing laws etc...
Don't miss it one bit

Burnley1989 wrote: ↑

Tue Aug 06, 2024 4:42 pm

I enjoyed the 4 years I played in it, finished top 2 every year but never won a cup.
Pitches terrible, games called off for frozen pitches that were fine, burnley games ko changes, later licensing laws etc...
Don't miss it one bit

Once upon a time there was more camaraderie but as you say for a variety of different reasons it became a chore as opposed to something enjoyable to do on a Sunday morning. I've been there & watched the fixtures from the extremes of Victory Park to John Bradley going beyond Craven & Burnley overlap.

Burnley1989 wrote: ↑

Tue Aug 06, 2024 4:42 pm

I enjoyed the 4 years I played in it, finished top 2 every year but never won a cup.
Pitches terrible, games called off for frozen pitches that were fine, burnley games ko changes, later licensing laws etc...
Don't miss it one bit

Those first two hit the nail on the head. The pitches were absolutely atrocious once it got to the end of September, and the council had a very laissez-faire approach to maintenance. The fees the council want for the pitches each week were eye watering, and totally out of keeping with other leagues and 3G.

Also, the league's reluctance to allow games to be played on 3G really took any momentum out of the season for a lot of players.

The move to a more progressive league in Burnley was very appealing to the clubs remaining in the PCSL, and if anything it should have happened a year ago.

Walton wrote: ↑

Tue Aug 06, 2024 5:54 pm

Those first two hit the nail on the head. The pitches were absolutely atrocious once it got to the end of September, and the council had a very laissez-faire approach to maintenance. The fees the council want for the pitches each week were eye watering, and totally out of keeping with other leagues and 3G.

Also, the league's reluctance to allow games to be played on 3G really took any momentum out of the season for a lot of players.

The move to a more progressive league in Burnley was very appealing to the clubs remaining in the PCSL, and if anything it should have happened a year ago.

Can I also add to this the dark age mentality of a number of players, who rather than wanting to play football prefer to spend their time kicking lumps out of people or starting on refs. That puts off good players who prefer to play where they won't get hacked in 2 for having the brass neck to take somebody on.

equinox wrote: ↑

Tue Aug 06, 2024 4:34 pm

The state of grass pitches in the winter doesn't help with continuity and getting the lad's into a routine.

As someone who's worked in the sports turf industry for 40yrs, the job has become a nightmare with the record rainfall amounts that we are getting throughout the year, especially autumn/winters, this does not help when we try to provide a sports surface. Look at the amount of games that are now called off at semi- pro level, I'm glad that I don't have to prepare football pitches, it must be impossible at grassroots level.
The price of Pendle's pitches went up last year for the first time since 2014, and according to the report below, will stay the same next year.

https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/n ... itch-fees/

Goliath wrote: ↑

Tue Aug 06, 2024 6:00 pm

Can I also add to this the dark age mentality of a number of players, who rather than wanting to play football prefer to spend their time kicking lumps out of people or starting on refs. That puts off good players who prefer to play where they won't get hacked in 2 for having the brass neck to take somebody on.

Tbf that's always happened and if anything the younger lads coming through were softer as the older lads packed in so it was getting better.
I'm 5.6 and can't fight, wouldn't class myself as soft but never felt threatened playing, admittedly it was over 20 years ago

Goliath wrote: ↑

Tue Aug 06, 2024 6:00 pm

Can I also add to this the dark age mentality of a number of players, who rather than wanting to play football prefer to spend their time kicking lumps out of people or starting on refs. That puts off good players who prefer to play where they won't get hacked in 2 for having the brass neck to take somebody on.

A lot of lads play Saturdays instead of Sundays these days. Better standard, better pitches, fewer knobheads.

The late licences of the bars in town haven’t helped. Whereas lads were going out at 6/7 pm and home by 2/3 am or earlier now they have the temptation to stay out until 7am and there’s no chance anyone is getting up for a 10am kick off after that.

Most teams have moved to the Burnley league for this coming season.