The Hanham Minor League are to extend their policy of small-sided games to incorporate under-11s fixtures next season.

Over the past decade under-nine and under-10s teams have become accustomed to playing seven-a-side matches under Football Association guidelines.

In a break from the national trend, however, the 50 Hanham Minor League clubs have voted overwhelmingly in favour of their under-11s performing scaled-down versions of the game too, from the start of next term.

League chairman John O'Brien explained: "Around 75 per cent of our member clubs felt strongly that we should continue with seven-a-side games at under-11s level.

"It is something the FA have long been calling for, while a lot of our clubs felt that the transition to the full-sized game, often on adult pitches, was too great a step for ten-year-olds to take. Players weren't getting so much of the ball and the enjoyment factor was lessening for them.Many countries don't make the step up to 11-a-side football until their players turn 14, so for me this is a positive move and one the Gloucestershire FA welcomes too."