GLOUCESTERSHIRE County Women’s League officials are calling on more volunteers to help drive the league to new heights – and at the very least ensure its survival.

Like so many sports clubs and organisations relying on the dedication of unpaid helpers, the county league, which has been in existence since 1998, needs more hands to the pump in order to ease the burden on hard-pressed existing volunteers.

While the on-field action continues to flourish, with 22 teams over two divisions vying for silverware, it’s off the field that the headaches have been mounting.

Chairman Dave Walker is among several members with more than one duty to consider. He is also referees' secretary and welfare officer and he admitted: “This is the worst it’s been in all the time I’ve been with the league and I’ve had involvement pretty much since the start.

“Volunteers seem to be lacking in all sports; life has changed.

“It is not the best way to run a league, with people having more than one role. Ideally we’d like a management team comprising members who don’t have any allegiance to any particular club.

“Being part of a set-up like ours can be a lot of fun and very rewarding, and it would help to have a few more helping hands to share the duties.

“If people had just one role to concentrate on that would be great.”

Most pressingly, the league would love to hear from individuals able to take on one or more of the positions of treasurer, league secretary, referee appointments officer and fixtures secretary.

Anyone willing to get involved can contact Dave Walker by emailing him at refwithattitude@aol.com.