Local football has lost a legend with regard to the passing away of  Dick Widdowson. Dick was involved in the start up  and running of Archdales FC in the early seventies and continued to be involved both as secretary and best supporter for many years.Archdales ran both Saturday and Sunday teams and became a local force on both days.Originally they were based at the old Archdales club before moving up to Claines Lane where they had a lease for ten years paid for by Sainsbury’s who were interested in moving onto Archdales land.Dick without hesitation put all his efforts and time into making Claines Lane a good new home for the Dales and local football in general.The main pavillion and the pitches had never looked so good.

Dick also served on the Nursing Cup Committee for many years and was always available at the finals arranging the presentations and in some cases making the awards himself.

Dick was Archdales through and through and could always be found supporting them both home and away.On Sunday mornings Dick could always be found up on the firsrt floor of Archdales in the club room setting out his place in front of one of the only working  radiators to watch the game through the window keeping himself warm into the bargain.

The Referees changing room was also on the same floor and you had to go through the club room to access it. Dick would always ensure the room was ready and the shower was working and no other members were allowed to make any comments towards the referee in his passage through the club room following the game.He would remain in the clubroom until the referee was ready to leave and then invite the Ref down into the bar for a beer regardless of the refs performance.

The club in the early days was also a base for all the referees locally who would call back to the club for a beer following their games and always be made welcome by Dick who used to enquire  how they had got on in their games.He would always come over to me and let me know how the Referee had performed in the Archdales game and he did not pull any punches if he had any comments to make although always fair in his appraisal.

On one particular Sunday when I was watching the game Archdales had  a player sent off and Dick found me and asked me about the incident to which I advised casually that maybe a yellow card earlier would have prevented the red.

I thought no more about the incident until in the week when I received correspondence from the Worcester FA where Dick had advised the FA that I had been officially accessing at the game and I had stated that it was not a red card.This was Dick trying to support his player and his team and using all means to achieve it.I had to advise the FA that what Dick had reported was not accurate and learnt my own lessson not to comment about referees especially if Dick was in ear shot.When I next saw him and questioned him about the incident he smiled and shrugged it off  saying “it was worth a try”

Dick was a character in both football circles,cricket, horse racing and even at work.Dick finished his working life as part of the maintenance team up at the new Hindlip polce headquarters and I was involved in commissioning the heating system working with Dick and his colleagues.One morning I received a call from the property manager advising that the heating had not come on and Dick had reported to the property manager that it was the “Muffler Valve” that had failed.I had no idea  or knowledge what this was and was querious myself however on arriving on site discovered that the heating time clock had been left turned off and on questioning Dick about the Muffler Valve he advised that it would keep them all happy and was a good technical term that they wouldn’t understand.I recall that over the next few months the heating failed for various other reasons but it was always the fault of the “Muffler Valve” when Dick reported it taking the pressure of himself and his team

The Worcester League offers their condolences to Dick’s family and he will be greatly missed by  his  family and all who new him but will never be forgotten when it comes to Local Football and Archdales FC.Rest in peace Dick

Jeff Widdett Worcester League Referee’s Appointment Officer

The McDonalds Worcester and District Football League are now accepting applications for the 2021/22 season! 

If you're interested in joining a great league for the 2020/21 campaign, then please complete the online application form here.

Nb. We now use Google forms for applications so there is no need to download and fill out the word/pdf document you may already have – this can be completed quite easily using a smart phone.  The application captures the details of your key club committee members and further details, such as your pitch and kit colours, will be collected on successful acceptance into the league.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Wayne Hanson
League Secreatry

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So how much does it cost? –

The following is a guide and based on the 2019/20 season and subject to change. Due COVID-19 the fees were subsidised by the league for the 2020/21.  No decision on fee's has been made for the new season, but the below is based on a typical season and should be used to aid your planning.

County FA

Before you can play football, you need to affiliate with a County FA.  For us that’s the Worcestershire FA, although our two Colwall sides are affiliated to the Herefordshire FA.  Affiliation is an annual event and usually needs to be completed by the end of June each year.

The County FA affiliation fee for the 2019/20 season, including the minimum mandatory player insurance, was £147

Worcester League Fees

New CLub Deposit (One off) - £100

League Subscription (Annual) - £134*

New clubs are required to deposit £100 – this will be kept by the league until you withdraw.  This is a one-off deposit and doesn’t need to be paid annually for future seasons.

League fees are formed of 3 parts.  The club/team annual subscription, league insurance and the club monthly draw fee (8 draws with 1 prize of £40, and 3 prizes of £30 each month).

• Club/Team annual subscription:  £65*
• League insurance:                           £9
• Club monthly draw:                        £60

*Since the FA introduced mandatory player insurance, the league has given something back and the past three seasons this has been £50 cash back against the annual subscription.  Therefore, the club cost for entering one team last season was £84.

Preseason is a busy and often expensive period; therefore, the Worcester League doesn’t collect fees until the end of September after a full month of fixtures.  Furthermore, the fees can be paid in two instalments to spread the cost.  New club deposits needto be paid by August.

Pitches

It’s the club’s reasonability to provide a suitable venue for fixtures, however the Worcester League help with clubs that require a Worcester City Council pitch.  Pitch fees vary and more details regarding Worcester Council Pitches can be found here.  

The typical cost of pitch with changing rooms averages at £50 per game.

Referees

It’s the responsibility of the home team to pay the match day referee.  The referee fee is currently £25 plus mileage at 35p per mile up to a maximum of £10.00. Please note that this does vary for other external competitions, such as the WFA County Cup.

Useful Links

Setting up a club?

Running a club?

Worcester League Rules

Information for club secretaries  

Please contact the league secretary for further details.

Tonights club delegates meeting has been postponed due to the current flooding and road closures.

A new date will be scheduled in ASP

Wayne Hanson

How to make payments to the league

Please DO NOT send cash in the post

Payment Options:

Cheques:
These should be made payable to: Worcester and District Football League - Please send to the league treasurers Steve Harness, whose contact details can be in the League Officers Directory

Annual league fees can be paid in two instalments.  The first installment is due at the end of September and the second at the end of November.  Clubs with three or more teams can make at third installment at the end of January.

Please contact the league treasurer to setup.

Potential players should contact the clubs via the Club Directory unless specified otherwise below. You can also find clubs looking for player at the Worcestershire FA Player Recruitment page

https://www.facebook.com/worleague/

New Club Application Form

New Club Application Form

Whole Game Sytsem Registration Guide

Registration Detail Collection Form

SMS Reporting Guide

FT Team Sheet Guidance

Transfer Form

Transfer Form

Nursing Cup Match Report Form

WCC Pitch Hire Agreement

Thank you to all those who took the time to participate in this survey.

A total of 15 questions were asked and 324 responses were received from 53 teams.

The results of the survey will be analysed and discussed at our next Management Committee meeting. Any agreed recommendations for the future, will be notified to you all in due course.

Click here to see the results

Due to the bad weather, it has been decided to postpone all the Worcester League matches this Sunday, 4 March.

It is with deep sadness and heavy heart, that we have to inform you, that Brian Poyner, long serving Secretary of Arrow F.C. and a member of the League Management Committee, died suddenly this morning. Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this difficult time. Would all teams participating in matches tomorrow morning, please observe a minute's silence in Brian's memory.