Football fans will see a lot less of the high school variety this fall.
All junior high school football teams in the Lambton-Kent district have disbanded, and two of the senior squads won’t be competing.
Northern Collegiate dropped its junior team, as has Chatham-Kent, which left only St. Patrick’s and Ursuline College. Because three teams are needed for league play the program won’t be offered this season.
Northern, Great Lakes and St. Patrick’s will field senior 12-man squads with Wallaceburg and Ursuline. But McGregor ended its senior program and Blenheim is competing in another league.
The season kicks off with Great Lakes playing Ursuline in Chatham on Sept. 26.
Secondary school athletic associations across the province are reporting fewer football teams this fall because of declining enrollment and a lack of interest in the sport.