MJPFL President Cyrille Regis interview
“Youngsters’ football league may tackle social structure breakdown” – Cyrille Regis

Speaking as president of a unique football league for youngsters, veteran professional footballer, Cyrille Regis, believes the organisation could tackle the breakdown in social structure – and appeals for local businesses to provide sponsorship.

The only one of its kind in the country, The Midland Junior Premier Football League (MJPFL) was established in 2004 by a group of West Midlands-based non-league clubs – providing a much-needed boost for youth football across the region, spanning a 60-mile radius of Birmingham.

Filling the gap
Cyrille said:  “JPFL is providing young people with a unique opportunity to receive quality coaching and competition for players aged 12 to 18 years - filling the gap for those who can’t get into scholarship or an academy, yet are too good for Sunday football.  

“Added to which, given today’s busy roads and spirit of fear, parents no longer want their youngsters knocking a ball about in the street or park – it’s a rare sight today,” added the Birmingham-based footballer – who now works as a football player agent.

“Again, MJPFL provides a safe, secure and professional environment for youngsters to acquire and improve their football skills,” said the 50 year-old.

FA Cup-winning player
A professional footballer for 19 years and a member of Coventry City’s 1987 FA Cup-winning side, Cyrille added:  “Football training is so important for all young people – including the non-academic who can fall by the wayside, lose their sense of direction and subsequently get into trouble.  

“As a youngster, I always had respect for authority figures like the police and my teachers – but these days we have teaching staff resigning because of being bullied by their pupils!”

Cyrille added:  “Football boosts youngsters’ self-esteem and self-discipline, while improving their health.  The sport also teaches team spirit and dynamics, principles of life, decent attitudes and leads to great friendships.”
Talent isn’t the only key to success
Some players think success in the sport is down to talent alone, yet they must also develop a real passion for the game and the correct attitude is vital.  Players have to progress in all those areas, regardless of how good they are technically.”

Cyrille believes that whether studying or working for the rest of the day, football is the ideal accompanying activity for the mind and body.

“Clearly, the success of MJPFL shows it is doing the right thing – beginning in 2004 with only seven clubs (18 teams), but now boasting 38 (81 teams).  I understand the league has also been approached by ten new clubs for next season.”

Cyrille is also throwing his weight behind the appeal of MJPFL’s new chairman, Andy Barnett, urging West Midlands businesses to provide sponsorship – enabling the striving league to achieve all its goals in 2008.

“Now that we are playing ‘real’ football with its related costs, we need more funds to progress further,” explained Andy.  “A central pool of funding would be the true making of the league.”

A community game
Cyrille concluded:  “MJPFL is well worth sponsoring.  Football is a community game that needs supporting by its local community.”

•    For further information about MJPFL, see www.junior-premier.co.uk, or telephone Andy on:- 07780 508 583.

Photo caption
•    MJPFL chairman, Andy Barnett, pictured with league President Cyrille Regis.