A JUNIOR football side which has won two successive promotions has folded due to a shortage of volunteers to help run the team.

Skipton Town under-15s resigned from the Craven, Aire and Wharfe League Division A last week after appeals for help went unanswered.

Manager Darren Armstrong had been running the club almost single-handedly for much of the last three years.

Ian Longden had been helping but his departure to coach the Craven Minors this season has left Armstrong with too much on his plate.

"I have not had much time for anything other than work, bed, football matches and training," he said.

"People that haven't done it don't realise how much is involved. It's not a decision I've taken lightly. It is sad because 80 per cent of the lads I've still got from when we started. I had a tear in my eye when I told them. My heart was telling me one thing and my head the other."

Armstrong wanted to carry on training the team, but hoped someone else might take over some of the other duties such as looking after team finances and ringing round players for availability.

Ironically, Armstrong has only recently passed his FA coaching badge.

He said he would still be holding five-a-side sessions as a way of keeping in touch with the team.