The National Junior Athletic League was founded in 1989 with 16 men and 8 women’s teams contesting the inaugural match at Haringey on the 1st May.
The aim of the League was to provide athletics competition for the under 20 age group, under 17’s are allowed to compete within the older age group. This then provided the necessary bridge from young athlete to senior.
In the Leagues first season, male and female athletes competed in three fixtures, and due to the amount of interest created within the athletics circle this encouraged many more clubs to apply for membership. This then quickly resulted in the formation of a National Division One and Regional Divisions.
Over the years that followed, and with the increase in membership of the League it was found that restructuring was going to have to take place.
It was also noted that within the National Division the athletes were having to travel some long distances to the venues and this was having a detrimental
effect on their performances and in some cases affecting the athletes health.
It was from here that a decision was made to divide the countrywide
competition into the Northern and Southern Regions which would then be
sub-divided into area divisions, each would then support their own Regional Premier Division for both male and female athletes.
Club teams that finished in top place in the Regional Divisions were invited to a promotion match, and the teams finishing in first and second would gain promotion to their Premier Division for the following season.
Teams finishing in the bottom two positions in the Premier Divisions were then relegated to their nearest regional division.
During the same period, club teams in the two Premier Divisions would be
involved in their own competition. The top four men and women’s teams from each Premier Division, after the four annual fixtures, would meet in the
National Junior Athletic League’s Grand Final to compete for the title of
National Junior Athletic League Champions.
To win this title also meant that the successful teams would then represent the United Kingdom in the European Junior Club Cup Competition the following season.
Again due to the Leagues popularity and by the endeavours of the Management Committee to reduce travel for the member clubs it is time to restructure the League.
2006 saw major changes to the structure of the League.
The country was divided into three, with the introduction of a Midland Region which consists of a Premier Division and three sub-divisions.
The League also introduced joint scoring, whereby clubs compete as a club and not as two separate teams. Clubs with only single sex athletes will still be allowed to compete within the regional divisions but will not be eligible for promotion.
The 2006 season saw some 100 plus clubs enjoying this new innovation in the under 20 track and field athletics, and we are convinced that this is the way forward for our sport.
The National Junior Athletic League continues to encourage Junior age group
athletes to remain in the sport. We invite non-member clubs who have a
limited number of Junior members to join with other non-member clubs to form a composite club and compete in their own right or to compete as a
second claim member of a club already within the League membership.
This League is proud of its achievements in track and field athletics and is looking forward to an exciting future with the opportunity of making a vital contribution to the future of the sport.
LATEST
2009 AGM on Saturday 7th November at Alexander Stadium, Birmingham. 1230hrs
Agenda.....click here
Comment on the Leagues Performance
Email sent to League Secretary
“May I take this opportunity to thank you on behalf of all the members of Chichester Runners & AC for all the hard work you put in to keep the League vibrant and relevant to the needs of the athletes. We have once again really enjoyed our season and for us the NJAL has totally fulfilled its aim to provide an athlete centred transition from junior to senior athletics in a friendly and competitive environment” PB.
If you have any comments about the league, good or bad, then please email web site manager.
2009 National Final Winners
Congratulations go out to our 2009 winners Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers
For full results click here
To view photos of the NJAL Finals 2009 go to
Host club claims cut off point is at the end of September, any club having made a claim and not received their reimbursement contact should be made to the League Treasurer.
REGIONAL PROMOTION MATCHES
The three regional promotion matches took place on Sunday 30th August, congratulations go out to the winner and runner up of each match and wish them all well in the Premier Divisions for 2010.
For results click here
National Finals
FINALISTS
Birchfield Harriers
Blackheath & Bromley Harriers
Nottingham AC
Sale Harriers
Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers
Team Edinburgh
Team Glasgow
Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow
The League would like to express its thanks to the host clubs for getting the results to the web manager for publishing on the web site.
After the 3rd round 70% of match results were published before midnight on the match day.
New League Records
Sophie Hitchon, Sale Harriers, broke her own record in the womens hammer with a throw of 60.60m
Congratulations to Lawrence Clarke of Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow who broke the mens 110mH with a time 13.76
Also, Sarah Kelly of Kingdom Athletics who broke the women's 1500m with a time of 4-26.33
The first round scrutinised results are published on the Round One Results page.
May I point out to all match organisers that ALL paperwork must be sent to the League Secretary as quickly as possible following the fixture, this must also include Athlete of the Match Awards.
Fixture Dates 2009
Round One 26th April
Except Southern Premier 16th August &
Medway 19th April
Round Two 24th May
Round Three 14th June
Round Four 26th July
Promotion Finals 30th August
National Final 13th September