There is a new youth football league coming to the area – one in which statistically a player from each team goes on to be picked up by a professional club’s academy. The Nerf Junior Premier League (JPL) launched in 2011 with just 32 teams spread across the Midlands and the south west. Martin Brock – league founder and chairman – is hopeful it will bridge the gap between grassroots and the professional game. “I founded the league because I felt there was an issue with grassroots players getting into the professional game,” he said. Herbie Kane (Liverpool, on loan at Hull City) played in the league and so have a few in League One and League Two.

Source: Express June 19, 2020 15:00 UTC