Echo Junior Football League Profile

WELCOME TO THE ECHO JUNIOR FOOTBALL LEAGUE

The league provides football for players from U9 to U16 in the West Essex, and outer East London area. Our catchment area is London Boroughs of Havering, Barking & Dagenham, Redbridge, Newham, Waltham Forest, and the Essex areas of Epping, Brentwood & Thurrock. We also have a few clubs from outside this area.

"Festival Football" for U7 & U8 age groups is also supported.

Since the start of the League, then known as the "Hornchurch Echo Junior Football League", after the local newspaper, many boys have progressed through the ranks and at the last count 21 ex Echo players have played Premiership football and have amassed many International caps. Many more have played at the Championship level and Leagues 1 & 2.

The league was initially formed in 1961, by a few enthusiastic fathers, who met in an upstairs room in a pub, where they decided to form the embryo league. The local newspaper was asked to publish the results weekly, hence the leagues first title.

From small beginnings at U10 only (11 a side then), it grew to U15's and for many years stayed with those age groups. In season 1997-98, U10 Minisoccer was introduced and the following year the U9 section was added. U7 & U8 was also formed but the FA made these age groups "Festival Football" only in the last few years. The U16 age group was added in season 2004-05. There will be 578 teams playing in season 2009/10

The league management committee meet twice a month, and the full council meet bi-monthly.