Photo submitted by KMFL
The Kinsmen Minor Football League is set to kick off its 44th season, marking the league’s largest season since its founding in 1980.
Building on a successful return to the field post-pandemic in 2022 and a booming 2023 season, the league has seen a dramatic surge in registration numbers for 2024. This year, a record 260 young athletes will take the field, shattering the previous record of 220 players set in the late 1990s or early 2000s.
“We have 260 athletes ready to hit the gridiron this season,” said KMFL President Bryan Junkin. “To set a new league record only two seasons after recovering from the impact of COVID is just incredible. It’s a testament to the passion and commitment of our volunteers.”
The Senior Division (ages 11-13) will feature 160 athletes across four teams playing 12-man football, while the Junior Division (ages 8-10) will see 100 athletes divided into four teams playing 9-man football. Due to the overwhelming response, the league had to cap team rosters in July. “This type of growth caught us off guard,” Junkin added. “But with support from the Kinsmen Club and the community’s response to our 2024 sponsorship drive, we were able to purchase the necessary equipment for all the new players. Football is family!”
The league will also continue its partnership with Electric City Special Needs Hockey to provide food and refreshments at games. KMFL’s popular Friday Night Lights games are scheduled for September 27th and October 18th, featuring halftime events and food donation drives to support local food banks.
The season kicks off at 9 a.m. on Saturday, September 14th, at Thomas A. Stewart Secondary School, with games running every Saturday until Championship Day on November 2nd.
