DERRY HILL Boys FC's unique Mini-Football Festival gave more than 31 youth teams the chance to play without the pressures of a competition tournament.

Now that the leagues have finished, tournament season has started for Wiltshire's youth teams.

But the club did not want to host a tournament. Instead it wanted to celebrate football with a fun festival in which no results were recorded and every player was rewarded with a medal.

Club chairman Alan Crocker said tournaments put the pressure on coaches to field their best players, as opposed to bringing on others who may need some development.

"We didn't want to disenfranchise a group of players who deserve the same opportunity to play," he explained.

"The concept is different because all the tournaments around here are knockout. But the coaches and parents who came along told us they really enjoyed the weekend."

Derry Hill Boys started three years ago with just 19 members, but it has blossomed and now boasts 104 players, aged from six to 11.

It has hosted two previous events, which provided the blueprint for this year's festival. But this was the first time the club has been able to involve teams from all its age groups.

The competition was held on Saturday and Sunday at the six-acre Bowood Sports Ground, in Derry Hill, which was converted into four mini-soccer pitches for the event.

There were teams from as far away as Bristol. But although the festival was not modelled on a tournament, with points awarded depending on match results, Mr Crocker said each game was fiercely contested.

He said the club's two teams from its U-7s squad, called the Blades, played particularly tenaciously when they were matched against each other.

Mr Crocker also heaped praise on the performance of the club's U-9s team, called the Heat, who have suffered this season through lack of match practice.

He said all the Derry Hill teams played with tremendous pride as they fought to defend their club's pride on their home ground.

"There's room in the calendar for a football festival," he said.

"It wasn't non-competitive because the children wanted to win each game. The difference is that the results had no bearing on the next match, because each game was treated as a separate entity.

"This weekend was a cause for celebration.

"The club has seen enormous growth in the last year and the festival was an opportunity to celebrate where we are today, a thriving club with enthusiastic young players, supportive parents and dedicated coaches and officials.

"The smiles on the children's faces proved the event was hugely enjoyed by both our own and the visiting teams. It was a testament to the efforts of all those who helped organise and run the event."

The festival also included four U-10s girls' teams, which was unusual because at that age most girls play mixed football.

But Mr Crocker explained that the club's recruitment policy has been so successful it has a full girls' squad.

"It was great to be able to celebrate the fact that the girls' section of the club has blossomed to where it is today with teams at U-10s and U-12s."

Vice-chairman of the club Martin Smith said: "The focus of this festival was on fun, participation for all, and an opportunity to enjoy the football regardless of game outcomes.

"On this occasion no results were recorded and every players' contribution was recognised by the presentation of a medal."

There was a community feel to the event, with refreshments provided by the 1st Derry Hill Scouts. Most of the matches were refereed by teenagers from Calne's John Bentley School, who had undertaken a referee's course.