Grassroots Revolution

Grassroots revolution Friday, 20 December 2002.

World Cup hero Sir Geoff Hurst was among the guests as 90 grassroots clubs in England were granted official FA Community Club awards - a certificate that will revolutionise English amateur football in years to come... How fitting that one of England's greatest footballing heroes in the 20th century should be present at the launch of one of the most important initiatives of the 21st Century for our national game.

1966 World Cup match-winner Sir Geoff Hurst was among the guests in Manchester on Thursday 19th December as the first FA Community Club awards were handed out to 90 grassroots clubs.

These certificates of excellence will serve as a badge to show those nominated football clubs are run safely and well. The FA's commercial partners McDonalds are currently helping to recruit an extra 8,000 football coaches to ensure that clubs across all four home nations are organised properly at all levels"

In today's society, parents and teachers don't want to just send their children to any club - not knowing who is going to be in charge of them or what expertise they have," said The FA's Head of Football Development Kelly Simmons.

The FA hope there will be upto 500 Community Clubs by 2006. And they plan that another 2,500 smaller clubs will be given the Charter Standard. "The FA's job is not just about the England team - it is also about allowing thousands of men and women of all ages to enjoy playing football," said Steve Parkin, the National Game Division Director at Soho Square.

The beauty is that the international set-up could eventually benefit from the Community Clubs scheme. As Sir Geoff Hurst pointed out: "The more kids can learn the game properly in a safe environment, the bigger the pool of talent available for future England managers."

Before a club is eligible for an FA Community award they must have: · Qualified coaches · A minimum 10 teams · Teams ranging from youth to adult · At least one team for girls/women · Every adult team coach possessing a first aid qualification · Schools liaison officer · Volunteer co-ordinator · On the administrative side, the club must have a constitution, financial management, code of conduct, insurance, equity policy, FA Child Protection policy, Designated person, personal disclosure, attend FA workshops, attend Soccer Parent and have football development plans.

The FA Community Clubs initiative is the result of two years' hard work since the National Game Division was set up with a mission to successfully lead the development and investment in English grassroots football.

In 2001, the FA Football Development Stratgy was launched to develop our national game, recommending the 'kite-marking' scheme of Community Club awards and the Charter Standard.

The aspiration is for FA Community Clubs to be the hub for the community, a focal point for all those who play, coacher, administer and provide volunteer support. They will raise standards of coaching qualifications, child protection and codes of conduct.

It also means that a boy or girl can join a pinnacle club at eight-years-old, stay there throughout their childhood and teenage years into adulthood and end up with the veterans' team!

Sir Geoff Hurst and Eric Harrison, the youth coach at Manchester United who set David Beckham, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs on the way to successful careers, were at the launch at the Manchester FA representing McDonalds, who will pay for volunteers to learn the skills to be part-time coaches.

Representing The FA were Steve Parkin (National Game Divisions Director), Les Howie (National Club Development Manager) and Kelly Simmons (Head of Football Development). Youngsters from Manchester clubs, Fletcher Moss Rangers, Moston Junior, Medlock Rangers and Middleton Colts were also present.

* If you are interested in becoming a FA Community Club or would like any more information on FA initiatives regarding club development please contact the FA National Clubs Development Manager on 0207- 745 4601 or send an email to [email protected]

The full list of 90 Community Clubs

Bedfordshire FA: Kempston Rovers, Crawley Green Youth, Leighton United FC Birmingham FA: Rugby Town FC, Rugby United FC Cambridgeshire FA: Histon FC & Histon Hornets FC, Cambridge City, Wisbech St Mary Youth FC, Bar Hill Colts, Cottenham Juniors/Ladies FC Cheshire FA: Witton Albion and Wincham Park JFC, Stockport County Ladies FC, Nantwich Town Youth FC Cornwall FA: Penryn Athletic, Torpoint Athletic, Falmouth United FC, Bude Town FC Derbyshire FA: Wirksworth Colts FC, Long Eaton FC Dorset FA: Merley Allendale YFC / Allendale FC, Okeford United FC Durham FA: Gateshead Clevelan Hall Community Association East Riding FA: Hessle Rangers FC, North Ferriby United FC Essex County FA: Harlow Town FC, Focus Ferrers, Writtle Minors FC, Wickword Town Youth FC, Colchester United Community Sports Trust Gloucestershire FA: Bishops Cleeve Football Partnership Huntingdonshire FA: Priory Parkside, Somersham Town FC Kent FA: Ridgewaye Sweepers JFC, Tenterden Tigers, Kennington FC Lancashire FA: Thornton Cleveleys FC, Bispham Junior Football Federation, Clitheroe Wolves JFC, Euxton Villa FC, Horwich St Marys FC Leicestershire & Rutland FA: Barwell Athletic FC, Aylestone Park Lincolnshire FA: Bottesford Town FC, Waddington-Lowlands FC Manchester FA: Fletcher Moss Rangers JFC, Moston Junior FC, Medlock Rangers JFC, Middleton Colts JFC Norfolk FA: Fakenham Town FC, Hethersett Athletic North Riding FA: Pickering Town Community FC, Stokesley Sports Club FC, Teeside Athletic FC Northumberland FA: Blyth Town FC, Rutherford FC, Newcastle East and Junior FC Nottinghamshire FA: Gielding Town Youth FC, Newark Town, Nottingham Forest Ladies FC, Clifton FC, Keyworth United FC, Calverton Miners Welfare FC Sheffield & Hallamshire FA: Millmoor Uniors FC, Hemsworth Minders Welfare Juniors, Handsworth Sporting Club Shropshire FA: Shifnal Town & Europeans FC, Ludlow Town FC, Greenfields FC Somerset FA: Ilminster Youth FC, Clevedon Town FC Suffolk FA: Pakefield FC, Woodbridge Town Youths, Bungay Rangers FC, Kirkley FC Stafforshire FA: Cresswell Wanderers FC, Stone Dominos Surrey FA: Kew Park Rangers FC, Caterham Pumas YFC Sussex FA: Eastbourne Borough FC West Riding FA: Batteyford Sporting Club, Warley Rangers, Pannal Ash, Harrogate Railway Worcestershire FA: Evesham United