WITH the onset of another football season, the local situation at grass roots level gives cause for concern.

The Craven Football Association have lost several teams for the coming season with the withdrawal of Pendle Renegades, Horton, Hellifield Sports, as well as Ingleton removing their reserve side.

Over the last decade, the local football scene has lost clubs at Embsay, Skipton Bulldogs, Skipton LMS Bentham and Gargrave, while others have been reduced to one team.

On a brighter note, Barnoldswick Town are introducing a reserve side into the East Lancashire League, while there is a welcome return for a reserve side at Cononley.

The common factor in most cases is that players will not commit to regular Saturday football and there is also a lack of junior players taking the step up to open age football.

This is a familiar story throughout the area when speaking to club secretaries and managers.

We live in a changing world. Saturdays were a day of leisure time for football, rugby and cricket, whereas the door is now open for other sporting activities without the weekly commitment of playing team sports.

The draw of watching Premier League football at Burnley has hit teams, along with players opting to watch Leeds United and Bradford City rather than participate in local football.

Cricket is no exception, with many games now conceded due to lack of players. Even the prestigious Wynn Cup competition suffers from clubs unable to field sides on a Sunday.

The Craven area is very short of referees too. Last year, the cup competition had to be staggered to ensure an official was appointed for each cup tie.

Interest in football remains high on the public mind as the three district cup finals attracted excellent crowds, but new referees cannot be attracted to the game.

This season, the local scene will start without four senior referees, who retired either through age, injury or the constant abuse directed at them by club officials, players and spectators.

The FA are also losing two referees who are now level four and officiating at a higher level, which is a yardstick for any future referee that they can climb the ladder to higher leagues.

Like the Craven Football League, the Craven FA have an ageing committee who have dedicated years to the local football scene and would welcome new members to ensure the continuation of football in Craven.