After 107 years, the last ever games have been played in the Wensleydale Football League.
With just seven teams completing the 2025/26 season, the decision has been taken to merge the league with the current North Riding League.
Wensleydale League secretary Paul Dinsdale said: “As a group of clubs, we’ve made the decision to merge with the North Riding League to ensure the continuation of accessible all-age football in the area.
“How this will look will be dependent on what teams enter next season, but the clear intention is for it to be set out regionally.
“This will mean that all teams play each other twice in the league, rather than three times, and there will be a ‘Champions League’ type format for all teams to be involved with, along with the various cup competitions.”
Paul said the league committee would stay in place with the potential of the Dales Cup continuing in some format.
He added: “This, along with the structure of the new league, will be confirmed after the North Riding League’s AGM in June.
“I want to say a huge thank you to all the volunteers and sponsors, past and present, at both club and league level, that have put in so many hours and investment to ensure that we have football available to us in the Dales.
“The new format will bring a refreshing new look that will ensure this continues going forward.”
The final two games of the league both involved Hawes, with the Wensleydale side beating Reeth 5-3 on Saturday thanks to a hat-trick from Thomas Calvert and goals from Luke Wilkinson and James Stanger.
Hawes then lost to Richmond Town Academy 4-1 on Wednesday evening.
The final of the Dales Cup will be contested by Unicorn, who beat Richmond Town Academy on penalties, and Richmond Town Reserves, who at the weekend walloped Askrigg 12-1.
As the curtain comes down on the Wensleydale League, long-serving referee Jim Wilson will also step back from officiating senior games this weekend after 50 years.
The former Wensleydale School teacher will oversee his final men’s game when Middleham take on Oddoes WMC on Sunday morning in the Hillsprint Hambleton Football Combination League.
