Gavin Logan, winner of the 'Children's Champion' award in the Proud of Barnsley Awards 2019

Gavin Logan, winner of the 'Children's Champion' award in the Proud of Barnsley Awards 2019

As secretary to the Barnsley & District Junior Football League, I was honoured to receive two amazing awards in 2019. In June I received the HALLAM FM HERO AWARD for CONTRIBUTION TO SPORT IN BOTH YORKSHIRE & HUMBERSIDE.  Supporting young up and coming boys and girls wanting to develop football skills in their local communities. This was soon followed in August 2019 receiving THE PROUD OF BARNSLEY AWARD - CHILDRENS CHAMPION. Both awards came as a total shock to me, however, I could not have achieved either of these awards without the talented team of volunteers I have supporting both myself and the league, these awards go to show how much we have achieved and just how far we have come.

We formed the league on July 7th, 2015, affiliating to the Sheffield & Hallamshire County FA and now we have just celebrated our9^th birthday. We continue to offer both organised and structured grassroots football for ages from Under 7 to 11. The Covid-19 Pandemic had a massive impact on us, a very surreal time for everyone throughout the world. An exceedingly challenging time for all of us, with the initial lockdown forcing us to have to void the 2019/20 season, also having to inform everyone was very difficult and heart wrenching yet we continue to amaze ourselves. Just like on a football pitch, we are all fighters and all winners as we will not be beaten, if anything, this has made us even stronger, so its onwards and upwards, this is testament to how much our teams have enjoyed participation in the league.

We have an extraordinary strong and committed management team in place, all working together to grow the League. Our aim is to be one of the best leagues in Yorkshire, although I continue to believe as does my management team that we are already. We all want the same thing, share the same goals and love what we do. Without these guys I/we would not be where we are today.

One thing I have learned over the last couple of years is to always look forward and continue to have a positive attitude no matter what life throws at us, we all have our ups and downs, everyone’s mental health and well-being has impacted enormously on everyone, we need to keep up the fight and stay strong to achieve our goals. I am so VERY PROUD with everyone involved, people soon forget that we are all volunteers in whatever role we have, that starts from the young players right through to the managers and assistants running the teams, the club’s secretaries, and all the volunteers.

Yours in Sport

Gavin Logan - BDJFL Secretary

Click here to read more about the league