THE East Lancashire Football Alliance has shown that its success is not just confined to the pitch.

The biggest junior league in Lancashire has been awarded Charter Standard status - only the second in the county to achieve the accolade.

The ELFA, which is the amalgamation of three separate local leagues, has picked up its fair share of inter league titles since it was formed in 2006.

The under 16s were crowned county champions this season while the under 18s and under 14s both reached their respective finals.

However earning Charter Standard status is just as important as those trophies won by the league or its member clubs “It proves that we are doing things the right way, ” said league secretary Craig Wilkinson. “We are very proud of this achievement and we are only the second league in the area, behind the Bolton and Bury League, to have achieved the acco-lade.”

The league has been running in its current format since the Hyndburn and District Boys League, Blackburn Youth League and Blackburn and Darwen Junior League all joined together four years ago.

It currently has 226 teams from 51 clubs from age groups under sevens to under 18s.

And it also has the highest per centage of teams who have obtained Charter Standard under the Lancashire FA jurisdiction.

The Charter Standard mark demonstrates that the ELFA complies to the FA’s criteria of providing a high quality service that is safe and an enjoyable experience.

However, despite earning the highest award available, Wilkinson said there will be no resting on laurels where the league is concerned.

“We could say we have achieved every thing there is to achieve but we will continue to strive to improve as a league for the benefit of our clubs and for junior football in the area,” he added.

“We have plans to work closely with the FA to develop youth football and have a number of initiatives to work on with footballers in the youngest age groups at under sevens and under eights.

“And we are already talking to the LFA about ways of how we can continue to improve the league.”