Photograph sales from county cup finals have boosted Essex FA benevolent fund coffers (THP Sport Imaging)

Essex FA cup finals yield return

Online sales of County Cup final and rep team photos have helped to contribute hundreds of pounds towards the Essex FA’s Benevolent Fund, a registered charity which aims to help players and officials who have suffered a football-related injury and, as a result, find themselves in financial hardship.

Photos were taken at all of the Essex FA’s 2011/12 finals, and some representative fixtures, predominantly by THP Sport Imaging’s Tony Hussey and his colleagues while Robert Craven from the Cups & Competition Department also covered many county and schools finals.

Sales at www.thpsportimaging.co.uk and www.photoboxgallery.com/robertcravensport combined to generate a figure of £442.14 for the Benevolent Fund.

Attempts are being made to garner support from the players and club secretaries who may one day need to put in a claim.

Without donations, the fund simply wouldn’t exist. Clubs are asked for donations when they receive their yearly affiliation forms, and many forward gratefully received sums.

However, as donations aren’t mandatory and the form rarely gets further than the secretary, the total could run dry if efforts don’t continue.

Sarah Dyer administers the claims as they arrive at the County Office, and she explained: “The fund is in a fairly healthy position at the present time, although there has been a slight decrease in the last few years.

“One bad season, with a higher ratio of claims, could have a significant impact on the fund. We’re extremely grateful for the monies generated through photo sales. This is a relatively new source of income which has helped to boost the fund.”

Money has previously been passed to the Essex Air Ambulance who, on several occasions, have been called out to tend to injured players.

There are thousands of pounds in the fund but more people are starting to notice that the service is available so often the figures paid out are more than what is being taken in through donations.

Any injured amateur footballer can claim financial support and, for those players without insurance or savings, it can be their only means of help.

A special panel assesses each claim, and Dyer added: “We issued grants to a dozen claimants in 2011/12 - a comparatively low figure as it can be almost double this number.

“We’re currently in the rare position of having no claims under review - but I don’t imagine this will last long.”

*Would you like to make a donation? You never know when one of your players might need this form of help, which won’t be available if the money dries-up. Further information on how the fund operates can be obtained from Sarah Dyer on (01245) 393079 or by E-Mail at sarah.dyer@essexfa.com. Alternatively, if you have any fresh ideas for revenue-raising to keep the fund going, get in touch!