THE new under-18 youth football Saturday league being set up by the Durham FA for next season has been given a major boost by the news that a major sponsor has been found.

"The new league will definitely go ahead," said DFA secretary John Topping. Five clubs have committed themselves to joining the league, and there are another five who are considering making the move.

Newton Aycliffe juniors are the first club to join from the Auckland and District EBAC Youth League which has decided to suspend its operations for a year. One of the region's top junior sides, Gateshead Redheugh Boys Club, is making the switch from the Tyneside Junior League. The Washington SP Dunlop under-17 team is to join as an under-18 side, and the other members are Durham Community and South Shields Warriors, the latter a new club.

Three Albany Northern League clubs are considering starting under-18 teams, and there is also the possibility of college teams joining the new league. Auckland Youth League side Willington under-18s have bucked the trend by opting to join the Rhom & Haas JOC Hetton Junior League.

The DFA is considering changing the kick-off time from 2 p.m. to 11 a.m. or 12 noon on Saturdays to give players and officials the chance to see other games on a Saturday afternoon. Topping is opposed to a switch to Sunday football. "There is already a tremendous amount of football on Sundays," he said.

The name of the new sponsor will be announced at the next meeting of the new league, at DFA headquarters in Durham on Monday July 7.

Gateshead Tournament

Darlington Spraire Lasses under-10s won a seven-a-side football tournament in Gateshead on Sunday. There were five teams involved, the others being hosts Leam Rangers and Lumley, Low Fell and Wearmouth.

Spraire Lasses won three of their four league games, scoring 19 goals and conceding only one. That was in their one defeat, 1-0 against Lumley Lasses. The Darlington girls took their revenge in the final, beating Lumley 2-0 to lift the trophy.

Briony Tonge scored six goals in one match for Spraire Lasses.

Squad: Laura Shoulder, Gemma Keir, Tanya Shires, Leah Curry, Grace Pattison, Katie Blair, Nicky Henry, Briony Tonge. Coach: Richie Curry.

Auckland & District EBAC Youth League

Willington under-18s held their presentation night at the Hall Lane clubhouse with every player receiving a momento of the past season.

Goalkeeper Ben Cummins was named sportsman of the year and Jamie "Jaffa" Seymour the players' player of the year. The player of the year award was given jointly to John Richardson and Michael Coulthard. Martin Hopps, 16, won the top scorer trophy but will not be available next season as he is joining the Royal Marines.

The players clubbed together to present manager Rob Lee with a bottle of whiskey and an engraved clock. The presentations to the players were made by Willington's Northern League manager Alan Shoulder and club sponsor Barry Fleming, whose firm D&S Engineering will sponsor the under-18 side for a third successive season.

With the Auckland and District EBAC Youth League suspended for a year, Willington under-18s are to play in the Hetton Youth League next season.

Spraire Lads

The under-9s and under-10s travelled to Bradford on Sunday to play in the Prospect Juniors tournament. The under-10 played their first match drawing 1-1 against Bramley Phoenix.

In their next game they came away with a 1-0 win against Bolton Woods with Luke Gilbert scoring. In the third game they faced hosts Prospect juniors and after missing good chances came away with a 0-0 draw.

In the final group game they faced eventual tournament winners Guisley A and came away with an impressive 1-0 win with Chris Charlton scoring. This meant that Spraire went out of the competition on goal difference even though they never lost a game and conceded one goal.

The under-9s started with wins over Thornton Travellers and Zac Tervit scored. A 2-0 win over Idle was also recorded with Wilson Kneeshaw and Kerry Hedley getting the goals.

The final two games ended 0-0 against Guisley Dynamos and Eccleshill to put them into the semis where they faced a good Menston team. An end to end game saw Spraire go through to the final with a hard fought 3-2 win with goals from Matty Plumb and two more for Kneeshaw.

In the final they faced Guisley again going in 0-0 at half time Spraire came out in the second half stronger and Matty Plumb grabbed the only goal to see the under-9s win their fourth trophy of the season.

A special mention must go to Dale Johnson from the under-10 who tied for player of the tournament.

Leven Boys

Leven under 16s, who will play in the first division of the Teesside Junior Alliance next season, are looking for players to join the squad for next season. Training is every Wednesday evening at Durham Lane Eaglescliffe.

If anyone is interested in joining the club then you can contact manager Mike on 01642 892689.

East Durham Sports College

The East Durham Sports College Under 10s are seeking new players for the up-coming season.

The players have to have been born between September 1 1993- August 31 1994 to be eligible to play.

The side play in the Russell Foster Youth League.

The College are a newly-formed side and have been taken over by manager Jason Scotter, who was the City of Durham Under-9s boss last year - when they were undeafeated throughout the campaign.

Anyone interested can contact Jason on (0191) 3847287.