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Colton Juniors move from strength to strength
It was born 17 years ago from a desire to give football-mad children in Colton something to do.
Back in 1990 the community boasted a new housing development but very little facilities for its younger residents.
That was until a group of parents launched Colton Juniors FC which has today grown one of the biggest junior football clubs in east Leeds.
The club currently has around 200 youngsters on it books with 12 junior teams aged from under-7s up to under-17s.
Secretary Stewart Daniels said the club, who are based at Colton Institute on School Lane, have gone from strength to strength over recent years.
"The parents have dedicated their own personal time to get the kids involved in something which they enjoy. Football has helped unite the community and brought people together."
Mr Daniels said the 2006-07 season had proved to be a success for a number of the clubs junior teams.
The under-9s won the title in Division C of the Garforth Junior Football League remaining undefeated throughout the league campaign. They won 33 of their 36 league games, drawing three and ending with a goal difference of +142.
The under 10s won Division A of the Garforth Junior Football League finishing with a goal difference of +91 while the under 11's ended runners up in Division 2 of their age group.
The club's under 12s meanwhile also finished runners up in Division A and also reached the final of the Garforth League's supplementary cup which was played at Ossett Town.
Last season also saw Colton Juniors launch a girls football team for the first time.
"The under 14s did really well and we are hoping to get more teams off the ground over the coming seasons," said Mr Daniels. "The girls want to play football as much as the lads and they are as just competitive."
Mr Daniels said next season the club would have an under 17 team for the first time.
"We seem to have had a problem in the past that when the lads finished at under 16s they left to go to other teams. But we are keen to retain them We already have a manager in place so next season the under 16s will stay with us."
Mr Daniels said some of the clubs former players had gone on to play at at higher level.
"We can only nurture and develop the kids to a certain point before we have to let the pro take over. It is very satisfying to see children who have played for the club making good progress."
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Friday 18 May 2012
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