By BVIFA
(l-r) Avondale Williams, Cassandra Gregg, Avanell Morton, Andy Bickerton, Ryan Gelugk (BDO) and Thomas Albert. Photo: BVIFA
The British Virgin Islands Football Association / BDO Primary School and LIME High School Leagues will both kick off with the now traditional march from the Ferry Dock to the A.O. Shirley Ground on Wednesday 28th, January, 2015.
The BDO Primary School programme has seen an increase in participation each season and this year is no different, with twenty U7, seventeen U9 and seventeen U13 teams taking part.
As Cassandra Gregg, Primary School League Coordinator for the FA commented “the player registration has gone from around 500 to nearly 600 and we have increased from 15 teams to 20 teams. Everything is geared up for another wonderful year”
BVIFA President, Andy Bickerton, also noted that the Primary School League had now extended to full coverage of the territory: “It is good news that Anegada and, for the first time, Jots Van Dyke will have teams in the Primary School League. Althea Scatliffe Primary School has also held an Inter House Tournament ahead of this year’s BDO Primary School League and is obviously looking to be a serious threat to the likes of First Impressions and Cedar School”
Sponsors, BDO, are now into the fourth season with support that has gone well beyond purely financial and as Ryan Geluk stated at the 2015 launch, “Football teaches exercise and team work, which is important in everyday life and we (BDO) are proud of the programme, which has shown significant growth from the first year. This speaks volumes for the work done by the BVIFA, the Coaches, Cassandra and the schools.”
The U7’s will play their games at ASPS and on Virgin Gorda starting on February 2nd, 2015.
The U9’s/ U13’s will play at Baughers Bay, as well as on Virgin Gorda, with a same start date.
Speedy’s has once again stepped up to the plate to provide a ferry service to the players and parents traveling to and from Virgin Gorda and has also provided funding so that the FA can purchase video cameras.
The Lime High School League kicks off the week after with six teams in the Boys’ Open division, four in the U14’s Mixed division and four in the Girls’ Open division.
FA Executive Member in charge of Youth Development, Avanell Morton said “It is a great pleasure to be a part of this exciting venture and thanks go to the BVIFA, BDO and LIME for making it happen.”
Morton went on to confirm the plans for the 2015 opening ceremony, “School Teams, Parents, Teachers, Marching Bands, Cheerleaders and the Moko Jumbies will all assemble across from Pussers in Road town at 2pm, then at 3pm the procession will march through the centre of town, along Waterfront Drive and head to the A.O. Shirley Ground. At 4pm we will have the official opening ceremony.”
Bickerton also noted that the programme was now beginning to bear more fruit than just an annual league. “The BVIFA is satisfied but not complacent about the progression of the young boys and girls into our National programmes. An U15 Girls team performed very creditably at the CONCACAF Tournament. The same group of girls is on the verge of winning the Women’s Marlon Penn Nine a Side League and the U15 Boys just missed out on a semi final spot in the St Maarten F.A’s Easter Invitational Tournament in 2014 when they faced teams from Guadeloupe, Martinique, the hosts and the USVI.”
Full fixture lists are available at the BVIFA office at the Botanic Garden and will be sent to schools electronically.
