Local heroes: Cast of thousands will give lie to the Playstation nation myth

Upwards of 200 teams are registered to participate in the leagues at under-13 to under-19 level this year, with 75 trophies at stake over the next ten months.

The association will be represented by teams stretching the breadth of the Lothians and the Borders and even into England, from Hillfield Swifts in Kirkliston in the west, to Tweedmouth Juniors of Berwick-Upon-Tweed in the east.

Although a number of teams have been forced to withdraw from the league, entry level of new teams at the under-13 age group, which gives players their first taste of competitive 11-a-side football, remains steady at 44. While the youngest age group is something of an unknown quantity, with odds unlikely to be available on the favourites for the various titles available, there will be varying degrees of expectancy on the established older teams.

Tynecastle under-14s, Scottish Cup champions and treble-winners in the under-13 category last season, are likely to go head-to-head with league champions Hutchison Vale and close challengers Edina Hibs for honours in the top division.

Perhaps the closest-fought age group is under-15 level, with a wealth of top quality teams having shared the rewards up for grabs last season. Edina Hibs and Tynecastle will start as frontrunners for the top trophies but will most likely have to contend with the loss of a clutch of their star players to senior clubs' youth initiative teams.

A similar bout of cherry-picking will no doubt have dogged the preparations of Tynecastle at both under-16 and under-17 level, with many senior teams on the trail of the club's young talents. Both teams had won four trophies each by the climax of the campaign in May and will be hoping to cling onto their silverware this year.

Tynecastle, a new-look Hutchison Vale, and Seton will be expected to contest the honours at under-17 level, while Edinburgh City and Tynie start as hot favourites to dominate the under-19 age group.

Allan Archibald, secretary for all leagues between under-13 and under-19 age groups, is enthusiastic about the new campaign. "Once we get started, everybody's in the way of things again," he says. "The league setup really runs itself, because we get good co-operation from the clubs."

Meanwhile, local youth football has been in mourning over the past week after the death of former association chairman Ken Ritchie. Mr Ritchie served as chief of the East of Scotland Youth FA from 1986 to 1988, and thereafter sponsored a trophy. He was present at Saughton Enclosure at the end of May for the 23rd cup final played in his name, with Tynecastle triumphing over Edina Hibs to clinch the under-13 Ken Ritchie Cup.

After the match, Mr Ritchie said he had missed just one cup final since beginning sponsorship of the competition, and commented on the improving quality of football year-on-year.

Current SERYFA secretary Allan Archibald said Mr Ritchie's annual presence on the touchline will be sorely missed.

"It's a very sad loss indeed," said Mr Archibald. "Ken was a stalwart in his time as chairman and thoroughly enjoyed attending his cup final every year."

Mr Ritchie's funeral is to be held at Seafield Crematorium on Tuesday at 11.00am.