A fledgling new football league in Skelmesdale has been handed a boost from one of the town’s best known employers.
The Karl Vella Group donated £100 to the Skelmersdale Steven Mitchell Intermediates Football League which enabled it to buy a new trophy, The Karl Vella Cup, which teams will play for annually.
The league was set up by retired policeman Ian Gregson and youth worker Andy Wright in memory of Steven Mitchell, who died two years ago in a car accident in Bickerstaffe.
The league bridges the gap between youngsters’ and open age teams, as there was previously nothing set up in the area to enable teenagers to continue playing competitively after their 15th birthday.
Ian said: “We are delighted with the support we’ve had from the Karl Vella Group. In the beginning, it was difficult to get things off the ground and we have relied solely on voluntary donations from individuals, organisations like Tawd Vale Lions who provided us with nets and local businesses like the Karl Vella Group.
“We’ve now got six teams in the Under 18s league and eight teams in the Under 16s, and we are looking at joining them up next year to make a league of 14.
“We’re also hoping to have a presentation evening at Skelmersdale United later in the year.”
David Vella, Group Operations Director at the Karl Vella Group, said: “As a company, we take our responsibilities to the local community very seriously, which is why we have supported a number of local voluntary organisations over the years, such as Tanhouse Morris Dancers, the Artz Academy, West Lancs Girls Football League and now Skelmersdale Steven Mitchell Intermediates Football League.
“We wish Ian and the league all the very best and of course look forward to seeing who lifts the Karl Vella Cup for the first time!”
