The Allied Counties Youth Football League (ACYFL) is an amateur flood-lit football league first founded in 1972 for 16 to 18 year olds at semi-professional clubs across the Thames Valley, as of the 2023/24 Season the league consisted of 40 clubs divided into five divisions – Central, East, South, North and West

The Allied Counties Youth Football League (ACYFL) season runs from September to April and also features a cup competition, the Allied Counties Youth Cup, which is open to all teams in the league. The cup competition is played in a knockout format, with the final usually being played in May.

Our Under 18s will compete in the Central Division with a total of four Berkshire Derbies to look forward to with Binfield, Thatcham Town, Windsor & Eton and Wokingham Town along with a clash with near-neighbours Burham United.

Our Under 18s will also face Buckinghamshire based Penn & Tylers Green along with West London based Bedfont.

Our Communications, Marketing & Community Enagement Executive, Ryan Sheehan spoke to Under 18s Manager Lee Johnson about his hopes for the season and here’s what he had to say about the new league and what we can expect from our youngsters as they embark on an exciting season:

“I’m really looking forward to joining the Allied Counties league for the new season. I was very happy with our performances last year and I won’t miss the travelling which comes with Combined Counties League.”

Q. It’s a brand new league this season, what’s your initial thoughts and what’s the objective come the end of the season?  As a group you exceeded expecations last season by being involved in a title-race can we expect the same against next season?

A. “We have a great bunch of lads here. Last year, we had the youngest team in the league and with 2 games to go, we were still in with a chance of winning the league. Hopefully this season, after a years experience under their belts, the boys can push on. My main objective is to improve every player and hopefully get a couple on the fringes of the first team. If the boys reach their potential, I see no reason why we can’t push for the league and do well in the cup competition. We start preseason training next week, the boys will be ready.”

Q. A total of 4 Berkshire Derbies to look forward to this upcoming season! That must excite you as a team or do you treat every game the same?

A. Compared to last year, every game will seem local. But there’s nothing better than a local derby, and we have 4 to look forward to. It’s always good playing local teams, there’s just seems to be more at stake when you play local rivals and, it’s also good for the community when 2 local teams play each other. We should have decent support for those games.”

A big thank you to Lee Johnson for his time in talking to us this afternoon we wish him and the Under 18s the very best of luck for the season ahead.