My name is Tchad Western (yes that really is a T before my name, proper Yorkshire - T’chad) and I started playing in the league in 1999 when I came to visit a friend in Sheffield who told me about his relationship with Jesus Christ and led me to faith. 
I ended up staying and giving up my old life and I’d only come for a couple of days’ visit! 
Part of that journey to faith was coming to Sheffield and finding not a town but a village where people were kind, generous and actually cared for their neighbours - totally strange to me after living in London. 
I remember going and joining in with The Wacky Over’s (now Ecclesia) and being looked after by the players who didn't’t know me from Adam. 
Seeing as most people who read these notes are from these parts they won’t be surprised to hear how I found the experience.
Football-wise I started with setting up two teams after seeing a demand for more teams in our church (St Thomas’ Church, Crookes at the time) and called them the Wacky Miners and the Wacky Majors (not very original names). 
These served the cup and after that some of the players from them set up the St Thomas’ Wanderers (still in the League today). 
I joined the Wacky Over’s for a couple of seasons before I noticed demand again in our church and the communities that we were serving and set up the Corinthians - a one season wonder team (well I think so). 
Then back to the Wacky Over’s, (by now called Ecclesia) for another couple of seasons, before the Lord’s calling took me to Italy for a year and a half as a missionary with my wife Andrea. 
On returning to Sheffield in 2006 I managed to make an appearance for Ecclesia which would be my last, as family life took over and I couldn't’t commit the time to training and playing regularly. 
This past season I’ve joined new team FC Philly, but alas only made a couple of appearances early on as my family has grown. 
My role as Chairman started upon my return to the UK.

Stephen Field – SDFPL Secretary
“My interest in the league initially started as a player for Bethesda United in the 2003/4 season. 
However serious injury meant I had to give up playing, so I took up refereeing so I could stay involved in local football.  I initially joined the committee as a liaison between the league and the FA and to deal with refereeing issues for the league.  
Last season I was asked to take on the role of League Secretary.  I am still an active referee and I have officiated 17 SDFPL matches this season and also officiate on the County Senior League. 
Away from the league I work at Corus Engineering Steels at Stocksbridge as a shift supervisor. 
My other interests away from work are watching football; I am a Scunthorpe United fan and was able to get to both Hillsborough and Bramall Lane this season to watch my team play.  
During the summer I am an avid cricket fan and like nothing more than spending a Saturday afternoon watching a game of cricket while taking in the rays.  
I am a church Deacon and help out with the general maintenance of the Church buildings. 
I am currently engaged to Rachel and we are getting married later this summer.”

“I joined the league as striker for Swallownest Bethesda in the 99/2000 season.
I was delighted to be asked to become assistant to Dave Roscamp at Bethesda and get involved with the running of the team. 
This introduced me to other managers and the chairman of the league, David Schofield. Back in those early years, tables were updated very infrequently and were posted out to managers. I offered to help improve communications between clubs and soon introduced the website and improved certain procedures. 
I took on the role of league secretary and treasurer in 2002 overseeing fixture co-ordination and league finances along with day to day running and website administration. 
Around this time, I left Swallownest and helped form Braithwell Unity, although injury pretty much meant my time on the field was at an end. 
As the league grew, so did the workload. Dave Schofield left the league in 2004 and Simon Nicholson stepped in and supported me until he left a year later.
Although a committee was already in place, with the help of Matt Bradford it was completely revamped into what it is today in order to spread the work across several committed volunteers.
The changes coincided with the return of Tchad Western who previously had been involved with the league and we were delighted when Tchad accepted the role of chairman.
Due to a change in career to live and work in Germany, In 2007 I gave up the role of secretary and treasurer but i still help with administration and look after both the website and the forum.
I love football, I've been a season ticket holder at AC Milan and although living overseas, i still try and get back when i can to watch the owls. I'm also keen on the US type of football and i've been to Denver to watch the Broncos in the NFL a couple of times.
I'm keeping the trend of committee member weddings going, After Dan and Steve Field, I'm next to tie the knot next February in Rheindhalen Germany... Unfortunately the fixture generator was not kind and scheduled the small game between Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday on the same day!

“I joined the SDFPL when it first started in 1998, as a player for the newly formed Swallownest Bethesda FC.  
That season we hit some form in the last few games and finished runners up in the league.  
Over time, the standard and organisation of the league improved steadily, whilst maintaining its ethos of playing good football in the right spirit.  
In 2001 I moved to Coventry for 3 years to study a Maths degree at Warwick University, but continued to play for Bethesda in the holidays and any weekends I was available.  
Upon completing my degree I moved back to Sheffield and began working for the South Yorkshire Police, before moving to my current job at Vesuvius UK as a Management Accountant.   
After University, I took up the role of treasurer at Swallownest Bethesda and continued to play in the SDFPL.  
In 2006 I opted to set up a second team in Swallownest; a team to combine the fringe players at Swallownest with the local Bethesda Youth group at which I was a leader.  Swallownest Bethesda Youth were thus created and joined the league proper in 2007 after a successful season playing friendly matches.  
Last year I was honored to be asked to join the league's management committee as treasurer and fully enjoy the challenges this role has to offer.”

“My responsibilities on the league committee are arranging the trophies and medals each year and arranging the cup, (semi final, final etc). 
I became a committee member after former Chairman Dave Schofield retired his position; me and Mick Grady were left with the running of the league and so we phoned a few managers to spread the work load. 
We also realised accountability was needed and so formed an official committee for the league. 
I have been in the league from the very first season, playing for Swallownest Bethesda where I won 2 league titles and the cup before joining Bethesda United Churches as player/manager for two seasons, winning promotion in the second year. 
I then set up Zion New Boys in Maltby where I have been player/manager ever since, winning promotion last year and getting relegated this year.  
I attend Zion Evangelical Church in Maltby, help run the churches youth group and when free help other church members do outreach work on the local parks.  I work at Hartshaw Chartered Accountants.”

“I am a Sheffield boy through and through, I was raised on the Manor and I still live there now but have had a few detours along the way including working in Africa with Aids orphans. 
When I was 23 I went on a boys holiday to Ibiza and met a girl from London, after getting to know her well and visiting London a few times she asked me to come to her Church.  
I loved every minute of it and a few months later I visited a Church in Sheffield and have been there ever since. 
I am now 32 and married to my beautiful wife Caz and we have two fantastic young boys Bradley and Noah.  
I joined the SDFPL as a player with Hope City AFC in 2002, we had a great first season, coming runners up in Division 2. 
In 2005 I took on management of the team.  
Last year it was a fantastic honour for me to be invited to join the committee of the SDFPL, I love the Ethos of the League and feel that we have a massive opportunity to help local churches build bridges in their communities through football.”

“I joined the SDFPL through a friend in 1999/00 and played my first season with IFK Zippy.  
After one season I left to go traveling with the intention of playing for King's Centre on my return.  
I came back in January to the newly formed King's centre and played the second half of our promotion season.  
The next season I joined the management team and we narrowly survived the drop, last day of the season job.  
Since then King’s Centre has kept a solid aging core and we have won a few cups, I drifted into joining the committee a few years ago and really enjoy being a part of this league and trying to improve and keep its fair play ethos.  
Outside of football I work for the Environment Agency in our national contact services.  
I play the occasional game of badminton and attend Arbourthorne Community Church in Sheffield. 
I got married on the 3rd May, but I have it written into my contract that football must stay!!”

“I am 50 years old this year; I have been married to Jane for 26 years and have four children. 
I have worked in the NHS at Rotherham District General Hospital for 30 years and worked in Cardiology for 25 years as a Senior Nurse. 
I have been a Christian for 38 years and have attended Swallownest Bethesda Pentecostal Church for 11 years – “Bethesda” meaning “place of healing”. 
My interests are football, walking, fly-fishing, cooking and DIY. 
I first played football for United Churches FC in the old Bible Class League (the oldest league in Sheffield until it folded). 
When the SDFPL first started I played for Swallownest Bethesda FC, but unfortunately old knee and ankle injuries stopped me playing football, so I started as Secretary, with my brother as manager. 
I went on to manage Bethesda United Churches FC, with firstly Matt Bradford and then Mick Grady, before work commitments became too great and I unfortunately had to give up the role. 
I am at present Assistant Manager for Swallownest Bethesda FC.  My vision for football is to see fair play and discipline promoted at all levels. 
I believe the SDFPL could be a league that helps referees during their training without intimidation. 
I also think that as the SDFPL branches out into youth football, fair play can be promoted at an early age. 
I believe the SDFPL has a come a long way in 10 years; it is well organised and the standard of football has advanced greatly. 
I am greatly honoured to be a part of the SDFPL committee, with discipline as my main interest.”