There are over 900 Lions Clubs throughout the British Isles and Ireland. Through their youth programmes each is dedicated to providing challenges and opportunities for youngsters that they would not otherwise enjoy. Any “Under 14” boys team playing in its local league, and of course affiliated to its County FA, can represent its local Lions Club in this knock-out competition. Initial games are drawn on a regional basis so as to reduce travelling time and costs, moving farther a field as the rounds progress. We try to stage the semi-finals and Final at prestigious stadiums, either FA Professional league Clubs or Conference Clubs. We also look to have some personalities present at these games for the lads to meet, and to present trophies, etc. And we are looking to have some personalities present at these games for the lads to meet, and to present trophies, etc. The Competition is sanctioned each year by the English, Scottish, Welsh and Irish Football Associations and by UEFA.
All this may possibly cost your Football Club nothing as everything could be covered by having a sponsoring Lions Club. Home games can be played at your ground, or if you prefer you and your Lions Club can arrange another venue locally and a sponsoring Lions Club may provide food and refreshments for both teams after the match. For away games a sponsoring Lions Club may cover the cost of transport for the team and its management to the match. Of course, you are still very welcome to enter this prestigious national competition at your own expense, without the help of a local Lions Club. Full rules, a guideline & an entry form can be downloaded. In any event, in the later stages of this national competition, where there is a long distance to travel the Lions will arrange a neutral ground "mid-way" between the 2 football clubs.
This provides a wonderful opportunity for a team to play against opponents and in towns that they may never have even heard of, let alone been to before. And also provides a clear measure of what level one league really is at relative to another. Many a team unbeaten for years in its own league goes down 11-1 to a team from another league in a different part of the country that has never been in their own top six!