McDonald’s Worcester & District Football League

2026/27 Season – Club Applications Now Open

The McDonald’s Worcester & District Football League is now inviting applications for the 2026/27 season.

We provide a competitive, well-organised environment for open-age (16+) grassroots football, featuring structured fixtures, qualified referees, and strong support from County FAs. Whether you are an established club or a new team looking to join a respected local league, we welcome your application.

👉 Apply now:

Application Process

To apply, simply complete the online application form.

As part of the process, you will be required to provide:

• Details of key club committee members
• Basic club information

If your application is successful, we will then collect additional details such as:

• Pitch location
• Kit colours
• Matchday arrangements

We look forward to welcoming new clubs for the upcoming season.

Wayne Hanson
League Secretary

Costs & Fees

Below is a guide to the typical costs associated with participating in the league.

Estimated Seasonal Costs (Per Team)

• County FA Affiliation: ~£200
• League Fees: ~£90
• Pitch Hire: ~£50 per home game (grass)
• Referees: £40 - £45 per match

Please note: These are approximate figures and may vary slightly for the 2026/27 season.

County FA Affiliation

All clubs must affiliate with a County FA each season to participate in competitive football.

• Most clubs affiliate with Worcestershire FA
• Some clubs (e.g. Colwall St James FC) affiliate with Herefordshire FA

Affiliation is typically completed by the end of June each year.

• The 2025/26 affiliation fee (including mandatory player insurance) was approximately £195
• We recommend budgeting £200 for the upcoming season

League Fees

Club Deposit (One-Off Payment)

• New clubs: £100
• Additional teams (e.g. reserve sides): £50 per team

This deposit is held by the league and returned when a club leaves the competition. It is not an annual fee.

Annual League Subscription

League fees are typically made up of:

• Club/Team Subscription: £65
• League Insurance: £9
• Club Monthly Draw Fee: £60

Estimated total: £134 per team*

*Due to COVID-19, league fees were subsidised for the 2020/21 and 2021/22 seasons. Since then, fees have gradually increased but have not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels. No decision has been made on the league fees for 2025/26; however, the 2024/25 fee was £75 all-in per team, and this is likely to increase.

• The 2025/26 season fee was £75 per team
• Fees are expected to increase but remain under review

Payment Structure

To support clubs during pre-season:

• League fees are collected at the end of September (after fixtures begin)
• Payments can be made in two instalments (September and November)
• Deposits must be paid by August

Pitches

Clubs are responsible for providing a suitable home venue.

The league can assist clubs in securing pitches where needed, including:

• Worcester City Council grass pitches
• Worcestershire FA (WFA) 3G
• Perdiswell 3G

Typical costs:

• Grass pitch with changing rooms: ~£55 per match
• 3G pitches: higher cost depending on facility

Referees

The home team is responsible for paying the match official.

• Standard fee: £40 per match
• Increased fee: £45 (if referee travel exceeds 20 miles round trip)

Please note: Fees may differ for external competitions such as County Cups.

Additional Resources

• Setting Up a Club – Guidance for new teams entering grassroots football
• League Rules – Full competition regulations
• Information for Club Secretaries – Key administrative support and contacts

Join the League

If you’re looking to join a well-run, competitive grassroots league, we encourage you to apply.

👉 Submit your application today:

How to make payments to the league

Please DO NOT send cash in the post

The most regular payment we deal with are for transfers.  Please reference the club and player name if possible when paying by BACS and please provide confirmation of payment to the registration secretary andrewpurslow@worcesterleague.com

Payment Options:

Bank (BACS) Transfer:

Transfer money online or through your local bank into the League bank account - details as follows:

Worcester and District Football League

Sort Code 30-99-90

Account No. 00701578

PLEASE ENSURE: Provide a reference of at least your Clubs Name

SumUp:

We can provide you with a SumUp electronic payment link on request. This will allow you to pay securely by card as you would do for any website purchase.

Please contact Wayne Hanson and the link can be shared via email or IM

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

League fee payment options:

Annual league fees can be paid in two instalments.  The first instalment 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 instalment at the end of January.

Please contact the league treasurer to setup.

It’s that time of year where clubs have begun requesting closed dates with less than 4 weeks’ notice, due to Xmas parties etc. Given this is probably the first time in 3 years most people will be having a Xmas party and that not many clubs have already closed dates, the league are going to allow short notice closures, for league fixtures only in December without being fined.  We need the cup fixtures played this weekend and failure to fulfil would be awarded as a walkover to the opposition.

You may want to consider closing the 11th December because if England progress, their next game is Saturday 10th 7pm KO.

If you would like to close one of the December dates, then please let me and the fixtures secretary (Mike Shipley) know by 7pm on Sunday evening. Thereafter normal rules will apply and you face a £100 fine for failing fulfil as per league rules.

 Dates 4^th, 11^th and 18^th December,

If your club/team already has no game on one of these dates, then also confirm to keep it that way, as come Sunday we will shuffle the pack and you may get a game.

W Hanson - League Sec

UPDATE 22/08/2022

The following teams are actively looking for new players for the upcoming season that starts on the 4th September.

Ravenhill FC (Div 3 - Malvern Vale Community Centre, Malvern) contact Joshua 07949 345752

Eaton FC (Div 1 - KGV Brickfields, Worcester) contact Ollie 07366 306191 or Dave 07943 382443

Powick FC ( Premier Div - Hospital Lane, Powick) contact Leon 07368 210039 or Stu 07528 541266

Powick Old Boys (Div 2 - Hospital Lane, Powick) contact Leon 07368 210039 or Zil 07976 847118

New Inn Claines (Premier Div - Cornmeadow Lane, Worcester) contact Jake 07850 082737

Clubs please contact the league secretary if you wish to advertise here

KICK-OFF TIMES

SATURDAY LEAGUE was suspended from season 2013/14

SUNDAY LEAGUE AND SUNDAY INTERNAL CUPS

Throughout the Season: 1030HRS

CLAINES LANE 3G ko Times are staggered 0930 / 1130HRS 

Appropriate footwear must be worn by ANYONE entering the pitch. Check with the home team, but Metal Studs, Blades and flat soled shoes such as trainers and traditional Astro Turf boots are NOT permitted.

Note: No Extra time and straight to penalties (excluding group stages)

REFEREE PAYMENT

REFEREES AND ASSISTANTS (IF APPOINTED) MUST BE PAID BEFORE KICK-OFF (2022-23 RULE CHANGE)

REFEREE FEE IS £30. 

The exception to the £30.00 are games where the referees overall mileage is in excess of 20 miles when the referees fee will be £35.00

ASSISTANT FEE IS £25

MATCH RESULT REPORTING

HOME TEAMS TO REPLY TO THE RESULTS SMS BY 5PM ON SUNDAY / 10PM FOR MIDWEEK GAMES

TEAM SHEETS AND REFEREE MARK REPORTING

TO BE ENTERED ONLINE IN THE FA FULLTIME SYSTEM OR VIA THE FA MATCHDAY MOBILE APP BY 5PM ON THE FOLLOWING WEDNESDAY

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

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

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

Whole Game Sytsem Registration Guide

Registration Detail Collection Form

SMS Reporting Guide

FT Team Sheet Guidance

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