Youth section midseason review: Strong start has teams in honours hunt

For the first time since the league's inception, Royal Wootton Bassett Town entered the 2024-25 North Wilts League campaign without a youth section side playing at the Division One level. Halfway through the season, and Bassett are on course to correct that situation with multiple teams putting themselves in position for a promotion push. Furthermore, cup success is within reach for a trio of teams. Leading the way in the promotion charge as they enter the Christmas break are the Under 18s who sit top of Division Two. Enjoying a highly impressive start, they remain unbeaten with seven wins and two draws from their opening nine games. A tilt at the title is now the Under 18s' aim, and they hold a handy three point lead over second place South Cerney with two games in hand still to play, while Croft Junior Blue (who have played just six games so far) are seven points back. Also top at Christmas in Division Two are the Under 15 Blues with 15 points from six games played. They are level on points with Ashton Keynes Black - who have played two games more - and two points clear of Bishops Cannings Tigers. In an open division, Lydiard Millicent Juniors (10 points from five games) and Blunsdon (9 points from five games) have a realistic chance at honours too. The Under 14 Blues find themselves at the top of the table too, with 17 points from eight matches. Stratton Youth can go above them if they win their game in hand, while Fairford Youth Spitfires, Lydiard Millicent Juniors, Hungerford Town Black and even sixth place Marlborough Youth Beagles are not far behind in a hotly contested division. Both the Under 15 and 14 Blues remain alive in the league cup too - the former being in the last sixteen and the latter through to the quarter finals. The Under 13 Blues have made it to the last eight of both the League and County Cup - a fantastic achievement with hopefully more progress to come. Their cup runs mean they are currently behind on games played in Division Two with the team sitting towards the lower end of the table. However with the games in hand they hold, they should be able to climb the table. Elsewhere in Division Two, the Under 12 and 16 Blue sides have been competitive and find themselves in solid mid-table positions. Among the Yellow teams, the Under 14s have enjoyed an excellent start. Unbeaten, they have won seven and drawn one of their opening eight fixtures and are six points clear at the top of Division Five with games in hand to play over Liden Community Lions and Marlborough Youth Falcons. Wanborough Junior are chasing Bassett too - they have played one game less but still sit nine points back. In Division Four the Under 12 Yellows have lost just one of ten league games though are fifth after drawing five games. They could still be in the mix for runners-up, sitting just four points behind second place Ferndale Rodbourne Red. The Under 16 Yellows (Division Three), Under 15 Yellows (Division Four) and Under 13 Yellows (Division Four) have all been competitive too and occupy healthy mid-table positions.

At the non-competitive age groups it has been enjoyable to see the continued progress made by ten Bassett's teams - ranging from Under 7s to Under 11s.

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Royal Wootton Bassett Town are looking to increase the coverage of its Youth and Girls' section across its website and social media platforms. Anybody interested in writing a regular round-up of youth section action (at competitive age groups) is invited to contact club Press Officer Stuart Smedley (stuart.smedley@rwbtfc.co.uk).