THREE Coca-Cola Jersey Football Combination clubs are to compete in an over-40s Friendly League in the coming months.

It is hoped that the pilot scheme involving St John, St Peter and Jersey Wanderers will extend next season as a result of other clubs running teams.

Combination vice-president Jon Welsh said: ‘The main reason for playing a Friendly League is to keep players of that age involved in the game. In the past people over 40 have disappeared from football and St John’s Nigel Perrée and I thought that having an Over-40s League was a good way of keeping older players interested when they were not getting games in the C-team division any more.

‘That way the clubs will not be short handed and we will be looking to make it social too as there will be a few nibbles after games. The Combination and the Jersey Football Association are fully supportive of our idea and we hope in snowballs in the future.’

Pictured: Veterans in the six-a-side league, pictured above, will now have further opportunities to play in Jersey