Avondale Morton receives the check for $20,000 on behalf of the BVICA from Ryan Gulet, Director of BDO. Also present were BVIFA President Andy Bickerton and members of the BVIFA executive along with coaches, Cassandra Gregg and Vincent Sammuel.

BDO will be sponsoring this year's After School League.

Present at the launch were BVIFA President, Andy Bickerton; Youth Football Secretary, Avondale Morton; BVIFA Executive Members, Alfred Reid and AubreyLiburd, BDO Director, Ryan Geluk, as well as coaches, Cassandra Gregg and Vincent Sammuel.

Andy Bickerton explained that BDO has been a long-time supporter of Football, either involved in Coaching Programmes or sponsoring individual schools, and had issued a challenge to the BVIFA that if the Association could live up to BDO’s motto "We aim to provide quality service by quality people on a timely basis", then BDO would honour its pledge to sponsor Youth Football in its entirety.

Little did Bickerton realise that he would become responsible for seeing that committee through from both sides of the table.

However, as fellow BDO Director, Geluk, explained when handing over the sponsorship check of $20,000, "We are very excited to be offering this sponsorship and partnering with the BVIFA. We have been involved with Youth and Youth Development for many years including the Makos Swim Club, KATS and various Basketball initiatives”.

He went on to explain how sports teaches teamwork and is a great way for youths to discover their abilities and to experience success. He also added that the Sponsorship is part cash and part equipment with each player receiving a jacket, a water bottle, a cap and a back pack.

Aubrey Liburd thanked the Directors of BDO for their generous support of the Youth School League and then Avondale Morton detailed how the BVIFA will be making sure that no one player or school will miss out.

"We will be visiting Anegada and Jost Van Dyke," he stated, "people on those Islands will be asked to help out and our Coaches will visit once a week to ensure everything is running smoothly. If they don’t have enough boys or girls then they will be merged into other teams to make sure everyone is given a chance."

Coach Vincent "Nabo" Sammuel estimated that over 500 boys and girls will be taking part in the various age groups, U7, U9, U12, U14, High School and College.

The Opening Ceremony for the League will be held on April 29 with a March Pass from the Ferry Dock to the A.O Shirley Ground at 2.30 p.m. Two marching bands will lead the way and on the field there will be entertainment from the Cheerleaders of ESHS and BFEC and also a drum core band.

As Bickerton concluded, "It is not just football players who will be on show, but other talented youngsters too."

"Nabo" urged the whole public to come out and watch the talented youngsters as well as line the route to the Shirley Ground.