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REGENERATING THROUGH FOOTBALL |
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Case Studies
Wigan Midnight League
GAME ON (North West), in partnership with Wigan Sports Development delivered an 11 week borough-wide Midnight League programme in early 2008. The project was delivered at two sites, Robin Park Arena and Lowton High School, to give young people from all areas of the town a chance to take part in the hope of qualifying for the Midnight League Regional and National Finals.
Each site hosted 5 weeks of Midnight League sessions on alternate Friday evenings leading up to a Borough finals night in the final week. A massive 227 participants (boys and girls) were engaged during the project with the help of local housing associations, youth service groups, tenants and residents associations and other community groups. 10 young people from the Midnight League were also given the opportunity to obtain the FA Junior Football Organisers Award, delivered by Wigan Sports Development staff.
Following the conclusion of the Midnight League an analysis of the effect the Midnight League had on crime and disorder was produced by the Wigan Borough Crime & Disorder Partnership, focusing on the ward of Hindley. The report found that “Before the sessions began there was an average of 3.2 calls per Friday. During the Fridays when the sessions were being run there was an average of 2.5 calls. And since the sessions have ended there has been an average of 2.4 calls. This shows that YCA has been on the decrease since the sessions began”.
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Time Period |
Average Calls |
Average proportion of Total YCA |
| Fridays Before | 3.2 | 36.12% |
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Midnight Leagues Fridays |
2.5 | 22.82% |
| Fridays In-between sessions | 4.4 | 27.82% |
| Fridays Since | 2.4 | 25.55% |