Junior Sport

Pannal Sports Junior Football Club was established in 1966 and has since gone on to become probably the most successful club in the Harrogate and District area. With over 400 boys and girls now playing competitive football for the club every Sunday morning, it represents a great testament to grassroots football in North Yorkshire.

The club has players from across all age groups from Under 6s right up
to Under 17s. From Under 8s upwards all teams play in the Harrogate and District Junior Football League.

Many players have played for the club right through the whole of their childhood and youth football career. When players leave the club, usually at Under 17 level, they go on to play for one of the three open age teams who have had mixed success over the years.

The club also has a girls team playing at Under 13 level and hopes to extend the number playing over the next few years.

For many years now, Pannal has been trying to find a permanent place where the club can congregate which could include a number of football pitches, changing rooms and a clubhouse.

All these facilities would be of great benefit to the club and the area but a lack of a space more so than a lack of funds has been the problem and therefore things will remain like that until the local council can sort things out for many of the junior football clubs like Pannal Sports.

Under 17 side

In a bid to get all children playing competitive football, nine of the age groups started B teams in a bid to allow players, who were not getting a game for the main team, the opportunity to play competitive football on Sunday mornings.

This move saw the introduction of the Panthers section in the club, which has extended the number of players playing football for the club. This has included our very famous Under 17 side that you may have read about in match reports over the past three years on this website!

Most of the coaches based around the club earn FA qualifications and are always acquiring new skills to teach many of the children. In younger age groups, the club has links with the Brazilian Soccer School run by Stewart Owen where many of the players can learn new skills and tricks with a football.

The club meets at Harrogate Grammar School where the whole morning sees the age groups playing mini fun tournaments with plenty of refreshments, car boot sales and food on sale before the squad presentations where the coaches hand awards to players for their commitment to the team during the course of the season.

Many footballers have left Pannal Sports and gone on to good things. Some have been scouted by Leeds United and Bradford City. Many of the teams have achieved success too, with the club earning trophy after trophy with players that are perhaps amongst the best from their schools.

As a long-running and successful club, Pannal also has an open and friendly atmosphere and will continue to do so for many years to come.

Dan Birch