By J.R. Tidwell / Editor

A new youth football league is being organized in Verbena, and the group is looking for kids who would like to register to play football.

Anyone wanting to sign up a child to play football in the league may do so at the Verbena Annex from 10 a.m. to noon on June 23.

The cost is $125 per child, with a $5 discount for families who register multiple children.

The league will include three separate age groups. “Midgets” will be ages 5-7, “Minors” will be ages 8-9 and “Majors” will be ages 10-11.

Dianne Patterson, the president of the group, said the town has been without a youth football league for three years now.

“My grandson is starting kindergarten this year,” she said. “We want him to have the chance to play football here in Verbena. His great grandfather, both grandfathers and his father all played football for Verbena. We also wanted to bring the league back to be a positive in kids’ lives. Sports have been a positive influence in my life.”

Patterson said if someone wants to register a child to play but needs another option on the fee, a $75 deposit is required on sign up, with the league working out the rest with the person later.

No more cheerleaders are being registered for the league at this time.

Patterson is part of a whole new branch of leadership for the group as it attempts to reform.

“I started getting together what we needed (to bring back the league),” she said. “I put together a meeting, and we elected a whole new board, a president and vice president.”

The group has already held one round of registration earlier this year, but Patterson said the league decided to host another day in order to try to increase the number of participants.

“We need as many players as we can get to show the surrounding areas we are serious about starting a new league,” she said. “We are accepting donations as well. We are having to buy all new equipment; everything we had was ruined over the last three years. It’s like we are starting over from scratch. We are having to buy all new stuff. We have many people helping us out who love Verbena and want our kids to play here. A lot of teachers from Verbena High School have given donations, and people in the community are excited to have the league back.”

Patterson said the league is really “taking off” so far.

“We want to try and keep these kids in the community,” she said. “Maybe one day they will play ball for VHS. We want to see football grow here back to what it once was.”

Anyone who wishes to register a player for the league but cannot attend the sign up on June 23 may call Patterson at (205) 389-5870 by July 1.