History

'Many people ask me how the Nursery Sevens Activity started. Like may things it came about because of a handful of dedicated people who saw a need for providing small sided football for local children.

The prime mover in developing the Nursery Sevens Activity was Danny Bolger. Danny had been involved with youth football within Milton Keynes for many years and responded to a growing need for a structured football activity for young children (boys & girls).

This all started in 1992 with only a handful of clubs & teams, but within 7 years this has grown to an organisation with over 50 Clubs and around 230 teams and caters for children from the ages of under 7 to 11.

We all owe a great deal to Danny Bolger and the original executive officers of the Activity. Although Danny has moved from Milton Keynes he is still involved with children's football and continues to make a considerable contribution to the game. He is also Life Vice President of the Nursery Sevens Activity'.

Danny has kindly provided his recollections of the early years of the Nursery Sevens Activity and these are detailed below. I am sure that these will be of interest to both our current members and to those clubs that have just recently joined us.

Mike Williamson
Chairman
19th October 1999


'I conceived the idea of a regular nursery football programme following my difficulty in finding matches for my nursery team at Willen - this was in early 1992.

During the summer I found a couple of clubs with nursery teams and organised a small (very small) nursery event. From this event I discovered additional contacts where the formation of nursery football teams were being considered.

In July 1992 I put my ideas for a regular six or seven-a-side nursery programme on paper and during July and August I approached a number of clubs with a view to joining the fixture schedule. The first club I invited to participate was Simpson Youth followed by Newport Pagnell Youth, St Monicas and Water Eaton Youth.

By the end of August the following teams had accepted my invitation to play at the inaugural age group of under 9's:

Great Brickhill (later called Brickhill Youth)
Holmwood (later called Two Mile Ash)
Newport Pagnell Youth
St Monicas
Simpson Youth (later called Simpson Sharks)
Water Eaton Youth
Willen Juniors A (my own team)
Willen Juniors B (my own team)

Seven clubs had joined the programme so I called it the Nursery Sevens Activity. I drew up a fixture schedule which began in September 1993. I staged the first Indoor Football Festival in January 1994.

By January 1994 Loughton, Old Bradwell Tornados, Scorpion Sports and others had increased the membership of the Nursery Sevens Activity from seven to sixteen clubs. The age groups had also increased with the under 9's and under 10's in action. Increasing membership has continued to this day.

However humble or grand a football organisation may be it is not any one individual or group of individuals that makes it popular or successful. The popularity stems from the platform (opportunity) it provides for people of all ages to express themselves in a hobby or sport which gives them the pleasure through participation.

The Nursery Sevens Activity was the platform for clubs to develop nursery football teams and allow very young children to participate in their favourite sport. Long may that be so….'

Danny Bolger
19th October 1999