A junior football league has stopped giving out the names of goalscorers to its local newspaper because of fears that paedophiles may get hold of them.

It means youngsters are being denied their moment of glory by seeing their name in print in the Evening Echo.

The Southend Junior League says its new policy will protect children against paedophiles.

But parents, former players and managers are outraged and say the thrill of seeing youngsters' names in the Evening Echo has been part of the tradition of the local junior soccer scene for decades.

Echo sports editor Paul Alton said: "Currently the only losers are the young players - their delight at seeing their names in the paper is coming second to preventing a presumed danger from paedophiles.

"Sadly, it seems as if, indirectly, the bad guys are being allowed to gain the upper hand."

The paper is calling on the league to overturn the ban, branding it unnecessary and irrational.

An opinion column in the paper said: "There has been no pressure on organisers to go down this road.

"Even if the imagined army of perverts did study the paper, they would find no telephone numbers or other methods of locating these youngsters.

"Southend Junior League must have the guts to admit it is wrong and quickly reverse this daft ban on naming proud goalscorers.

"The league is not only robbing children and their parents of their moment of glory, but is becoming part of a hysteria about child protection that extends beyond soccer pitches."

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