Nothing beats the feeling of scoring a goal (Gavin Ellis/TGSPHOTO)

Nominations open for FA Community Awards

Lee Power Saturday, February 16, 2013
12:00 PM

The Essex FA is urging clubs to put forward their unsung heroes for one of eight awards set to be named at the FA Community Shield in August.

Essex FA Football Development Officers have challenged grassroots football clubs and individuals to gain more recognition after The FA and their Community Partners, McDonald’s, announced that nominations for the annual FA Community Awards are now open.

Nominations can be made at www.thefa.com/yourgame until March 22, where awards aim to recognise and reward clubs, coaches and volunteers across the Country.

The categories are:

o People’s Choice Award (Outstanding Contribution to Community Football)

o The FA Charter Standard Community Club Award

o The FA Charter Standard Development Club Award

o The FA Charter Standard Club Award

o The FA Charter Standard League Award

o Volunteer of the Year Award

o Young Volunteer of the Year Award

o Coach of the Year Award

National winners will be announced in August at the FA Community Shield, also sponsored by McDonald’s, and they’ll be selected by a judging panel likely to include Sir Geoff Hurst and Sir Trevor Brooking.

Essex has an excellent recent record and Essex FA Development Officer Ian Bent has repeated that clubs and individuals need to make their best representations to The FA for that to continue.

He said: “We’re proud to have a very strong network here in Essex which has been recognised many times before on a wider scale. I believe this is a great opportunity for us to celebrate the dedication and commitment shown by clubs, coaches, players and volunteers across the County and I urge people to nominate so, fingers crossed, we can get some more finalists and national winners from Essex like we have in previous years!”

To find out more about the awards, read about last year’s winners and nominate an individual club or league from your community by Friday 22nd March, log onto www.thefa.com/yourgame, or call Ian Bent on (01245) 393094.

Further details on grassroots football are available at www.essexfa.com or by following @EssexCountyFA on Twitter at www.twitter.com/EssexCountyFA.