sussex county fa awards evening thursday 17 th september 2015 the brightonandhovejobs.com county ground, hove

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1 sussex county fa awards evening thursday 17 th september 2015 the brightonandhovejobs.com county ground, hove

2 Contents 5 Welcome 6 Order of Events 8 sussex County FA Football Workforce Awards 12 sussex County FA Long Service Award 14 The FA Respect Awards 16 the FA Groundsman of the Year Awards 18 sussex County FA 15 Year Referee Awards 20 sussex County FA 25 Year Referee Awards 23 the FA 25 Year Referee Awards 24 sussex County FA 35 Year Referee Awards 26 the FA 40 Year Referee Awards 28 the FA 50 Year Referee Awards 30 the FA Community Awards presented by McDonald s 38 The FA Long Service Award 02 contents 03

3 WELCOME Good evening and welcome to the Sussex County Football Association Awards Evening. The awards presented this evening will recognise and reward those people and organisations driving grassroots football in Sussex. Recently, Lionel Messi was asked what he thought about winning awards and he said: I prefer to win titles with the team ahead of individual awards or scoring more goals than anyone else. I m more worried about being a good person than being the best player in the world. When all this is over, what are you left with? When I retire, I hope I am remembered for being a decent guy. It is difficult for any of us to disagree with those sentiments, particularly if you are on the receiving end of an award, but to nominate and recognise someone s achievements is a good thing and is meant to reward and encourage, as well as to thank. 04 This evening we will recognise the work of people within our grassroots game, who take the responsibility of encouraging others very seriously. Many of these clubs have achieved Charter Standard status, and they place helping young people high above any success they may achieve on the field. Mathew Major Chairman of the Sussex County FA I am proud to be chairman of the Sussex County FA and privileged at the prospect of recognising the achievements of the award winners tonight and in presenting some of the awards. I hope like me, you will be inspired by what you will hear tonight and that you might be encouraged to play a part yourself; to help others achieve their goals or even to achieve them yourself. welcome 05

4 Order of Events WELCOME Sussex County FA Football Workforce Awards young Leader and Volunteer Award volunteer Award Sussex County FA Long Service Awards 15 Year Council Member Award The FA Respect Awards bronze Award the FA Youth Trust Respect and Fair Play Award The FA Groundsman of the Year Awards Sussex County FA Referee Awards 15 Year Referee Award 25 Year Referee Award 35 Year Referee Award BREAK The FA Referee Awards 25 Year Referee Award 40 Year Referee Award 50 Year Referee Award The FA Community Awards presented by McDonald s young Volunteer of the Year Award volunteer of the Year Award the FA Charter Standard League of the Year Award the FA Charter Standard Club of the Year Award the FA Charter Standard Development Club Award the FA Charter Standard Community Club Award people s Choice (Outstanding Contribution to Community Football) Award The FA Community Awards presented by McDonald s regional Award The FA Community Awards presented by McDonald s national Award The FA Long Service Awards 50 Year Award CLOSE 06 order of events 07

5 SAM McMANAMON Seagulls FC Sussex County FA Football Workforce Awards Young Leader and Volunteer Award Winners LUCY APPS Worthing Town FC Lucy regularly gives up her time to assist and help coach young children, and help them develop on their football journey. The time she gives on a Saturday morning to help coach the under-7s group is invaluable to all involved. Sam has been with Seagulls from the age of seven years-old, firstly as a player, and then taking over as a manager of the under-14s team at eighteen years-old. Prior to his managerial appointment Sam would assist several squads with training sessions and on match-days, always willing to give up his free time, even during particularly testing periods whilst sitting exams at school. Sam took on the role as manager of the under-14s after the previous management team had to give up due to work commitments, and this led to many of the players drifting away. Sam stepped up to the challenge and recruited a new team, whilst also completing his FA coaching certificates. It wasn t easy at first, most of the boys had never played together, but Sam stuck with it, always remaining positive and encouraging despite some heavy defeats on the pitch. Over time the team developed and results improved whilst still playing attractive football. Sam has an over-riding sense of fair play (all players get their fair share of game time regardless of ability) and calmness, regardless of the result. Evidence of this is shown in the Sussex Sunday Youth Football League Sportsmanship standings, where Sam s under-14s squad sit top of the entire age group of thirty nine teams. Lucy works closely with a boy who is autistic to ensure that he remains safe and is able to enjoy the sessions as much as the other children. After this she then assists in coaching the Girls Development Squad for girls aged six to eleven years. The group is expanding and Lucy s responsibilities are also increasing; she is independent and able to control a session giving the children encouragement and ensuring that what they are doing is fun and enjoyable. When available, around her own playing commitments for Worthing Town under-15s girls, Lucy attends the under-7s matches on a Sunday, to help with warm up, substitutions and anything else that needs doing to support the team on a match-day. After school on a Tuesday afternoon Lucy is also involved with the Tiny Soccer Stars sessions the club runs at their Palatine Park base. She supports the session for four and five year olds by helping them to learn ball skills, passing, dribbling and shooting. 08 Sussex County FA Football Workforce Awards 09

6 Volunteer Award Winners Dr Mike Nicholls Selsey FC Mike has helped change the shape of football in his community being responsible for the merge of two clubs, Selsey and Selsey Seals into one FA Charter Standard Development Club. Mike has raised in excess of 400,000, through various funding applications, for the development of the football club and other sports within Selsey. He has an ability to get new initiatives up and running, such as getting coaches into local school communities and running lunch time and after school clubs for football and other sports. These new initiatives have brought the sporting community of Selsey together, and have led to in excess of five hundred new people taking up sport. Mike also started up the Selsey Specials disability football team and establish the girl s teams. He continues to work tirelessly for the football club and the wider community, and is always willing to go the extra mile; over the years he has transformed the lives of many young people with the work he has undertaken behind the scenes. BEN LEWIS Withdean Youth FC PAUL NEALE Jarvis Brook FC & Jarvis Brook Juniors FC David Fickweiler Adur Athletic FC Ben has been involved in coaching youth football for over eight years. His role with Withdean Youth has grown and he currently coaches and manages the under-14s team and fulfils the role of Head of Football Development within the club. Ben devotes hours of his time every week to the development of young players within the club. He also mentors new coaches and supports them with their coaching of the under-8s, under- 11s, under-12s, under-14s and under-15s teams. Ben has been responsible for establishing new youth teams to ensure continued provision for young people in the community. This involves recruiting and training new managers, mentoring and supporting the various teams with coaching plans, as well as attending and leading additional sessions to support the less experienced coaches and managers. Every Sunday, Ben not only takes his own under-14s team for their matches but always endeavours to attend at least one other age group match and is always on hand to answer questions from parents or coaches. He takes an interest in every player at the club, often spending hours writing feedback s to parents and organising additional opportunities for players to play the game in various different formats. Paul has dedicated the last twenty five years of his life to local football in many roles both official and unofficial. His main role is as groundsman, looking after four pitches at Jarvis Brook and Jarvis Brook Juniors. Paul s role is however much wider and includes acting as fixtures secretary for the senior team, sports club and senior club representative, unpaid handyman, unofficial security guard, proud supporter and so on. Paul gives up many hours of his time to do what he does, and is regarded by the club as simply irreplaceable and a beacon for all that it good about community football. David has been the driving force behind Adur Athletic for the past forty three years. He has been club secretary for thirty four years and treasurer for the past ten; he has also managed and coached teams within the club for thirty five football seasons. David was also fixtures secretary for the Mid Sussex Youth & Minor Football League for three years and managed the Mid Sussex Youth Football League representative team. He was registration secretary of the Sussex Girls Football League when it first formed, and for two seasons on two separate occasions a trustee of the former West Sussex Youth Football League. He also acted as secretary of Adur District Sports Council for three years. In 2001/02 under David s stewardship the club achieved the FA Charter Standard award, becoming only the second club in Sussex at the time to achieve the award. Since then the club went on to become first in the county to achieve Development Club status, and in 2003/04 through David s hard work and dedication the club were awarded FA Charter Standard Community Status. David has also been responsible for arranging bi-annual visits for Adur Athletic to play against youth teams in Nijmegen in Holland, with the return to Shoreham-By-Sea by the Nijmegen teams on the alternate years. He has arranged everything from the transport, travel documents, insurance, accommodation etc. which has fostered many friendships which continue to this day. 10 Sussex County FA Football Workforce Awards 11

7 Sussex County FA Long Service Award 15 Year Council Member Awards Awarded for fifteen years continual service as a Council Member to the Sussex County FA Karen Ashcroft Doug Austen-Jones Paul Hartman Jack Pearce Dave Rogers 12 Sussex County FA Long Service Award 13

8 THE FA Respect Awards Bronze Award Winner Horsham and District Youth Football League The Horsham and District Youth Football League strongly support The FA Respect Programme and do their best to ensure that all players, officials and parents sign the Respect codes of conduct annually. The league conducts spot checks of club records, and where breaches of the code occur, they endeavour to ensure the appropriate sanctions are set and followed through. The league provides guidance for clubs and subsidise the purchasing of Respect barriers. They also take steps to promote the principle of captains taking specific responsibilities, being the single on-field link with the referee. As winners of the Bronze Award the league receives 100 towards their affiliation fees. The FA Youth Trust Respect and Fair Play Award Winners Southdown FC Southdown achieved a very high average respect score last season from marks given by their opponents in the Sussex County Women s and Girls Football League. This respect score is made up of a number of different elements such as player behaviour, manager/ coach behaviour, overall behaviour, overall enjoyment as well as covering aspects such as recognising respect via the team handshakes before the game. Southdown s under-11s and under-16s teams scored a maximum score of five in overall behaviour, player behaviour, supporters behaviour and manager/coach behaviour. Their under-12s and under-14s teams both finished in a very respectable third place in their age group giving the club an exceptional Respect record for the season. As winners of The FA Youth Trust Respect and Fair Play Award the club receives 250 from The FA. Horsham Tigers FC The committee at Horsham Tigers have changed the whole mind-set of the club in recent years, players are encouraged to enjoy playing and with that they learn and listen more. In the past few years the club have finished high up on in sportsmanship marks table within the Horsham and District Youth Football League. As winners of The FA Youth Trust Respect and Fair Play Award the club receives 250 from The FA. 14 The FA Respect Awards 15

9 runner up Brian Parsons Withdean Sports Complex THE FA Groundsman of the Year Awards As a community venue run by Freedom Leisure, Withdean Stadium hosts at least forty games per season on a very limited budget for pitch maintenance. The pitch is home to Brighton Electricity Football Club. Brian fits in the pitch maintenance on a part-time basis around his work at the Leisure Centre, and is assisted by colleagues if time and need allows. Using basic equipment, Brian and has made sure that the pitch is always in excellent playing condition throughout the season. winner Andrew Probee Bosham FC Andrew has worked tirelessly throughout the past year maintaining the Bosham pitch. The club has over forty games a season on the pitch, as well as training sessions and Andrew spends six hours a week during the season and twelve hours a week in the close season to ensure the pitch is in the best possible condition. Andrew s hard work means the pitch is maintained to an excellent standard despite working to a tight budget and with relatively limited equipment. As a Player/Manager, Andrew understands the need to have a quality surface which enables his side to play a good passing game, devoid of divots and bumps can make a difference between scoring a goal and missing the target. 16 The FA Groundsman of the Year Awards 17

10 Gerald Miles First registered 2000, Level 5 - Senior County Referee operating on Sussex Sunday Youth Football League, Isthmian Youth Football League, Lewes & District Sunday Football League, Sussex County Football League, Sussex Sunday Football League. He is also a member of the Brighton Referees Association. David Nwokedi First registered 2000, Level 7 - Junior Referee operating on Sussex Sunday Youth Football League and Sussex County Youth Football League. Sussex County FA 15 Year Referee Awards Presented for fifteen years continuous active service as a Sussex County Referee / Assessor / Tutor / Observer John Doctrove John Hydes Gary Manville-Dickens Andrew Massey First registered 2000, Level 5 - Senior County Referee operating on Mid Sussex Football League. Achieved Level 7 Referee of the Year in 2004/05 and Level 5 Referee of the Year in 2007/08, 2010/11 and 2012/13. First registered 2000, Level 6 - County Referee operating on Worthing & District Football League, West Sussex Football League, Mid Sussex Football League and Sussex County Women s and Girls Football League. First registered 1998, Level 5 - Senior County Referee operating on Sussex County Football League, Mid Sussex Youth Football League, Mid Sussex Football League, Sussex Sunday Youth Football League, Sussex Sunday Football League, Brighton, Hove & District Football League, West Sussex Football League and Sussex County Women s and Girls Football League. First registered 2000, Level 5 - Senior County Referee operating on West Sussex Football League. Highest level of achievement was Level 4 referee. 18 Sussex County FA 15 Year Referee Awards 19

11 Ian Pollard Sussex County FA 25 Year Referee Awards Presented for twenty five years continuous active service as a County Referee / Assessor / Tutor / Observer First registered 1990, Level 5 - Senior County Referee operating on Sussex County Football League, Mid Sussex Football League and East Sussex Football League. Dave Smith First registered 1990, Level 5 - Senior County Referee operating on Sussex County Football League. Keith Barham First registered 1990, Level 5 - Senior County Referee, achieved Level 4 from 1995 to Brian Bullen First registered 1990, Level 6 - County Referee operating on Sussex County Football League, Sussex Sunday Football League, Worthing & District Football League, West Sussex Football League and Arun & Chichester Youth Football League. Paul Jeffery First registered 1989, Level 5 - Senior County Referee. Former Brighton Referees Association Deputy Chairman and Chairman, Sussex County FA Refereeing Working Committee, Sussex County FA Council Member, Referee Development Group Coach, former Sussex County Women s and Girls Football League Officer and Charter Standard League Co-ordinator. FA Level 2 Tutor and recently appointed Sussex County FA Referee Officer. Trevor Sumpter First registered 1990, Level 7 - Junior Referee operating on West Sussex Football League. Robin Hall First registered 1990, Level 5 - Senior County Referee operating on Mid Sussex Football League, Lewes Sunday & District Football League and Sussex County Football League. He is also a Sussex County FA Referee Observer. John Levett First registered 1990, Level 6 - County Referee operating on Arun & Chichester Youth Football League. Simon Peacock First registered 1990, Level 6 - County Referee operating on West Sussex Football League. Referee of the year 2000/ Sussex County FA 25 Year Referee Awards 21

12 Irvine Woodward First registered 1982, Level 5 - Senior County Referee, achievements include promotion to Class 2 in 1986 and promotion to Class 1 in 1988, appointed to the Contributory Football League in 1997, appointed to The FA National List of Assistant Referees and Panel League Referees List in He is also a Sussex County FA Assessor and Referee s Academy Coach. THE FA 25 Year Referee Awards Presented for twenty five years continuous active service as a County Referee / Assessor / Tutor / Observer Also received Sussex County FA 25 Year Referee Award Keith Barham Brian Bullen Robin Hall Paul Jeffery John Levett Simon Peacock Ian Pollard Dave Smith Trevor Sumpter 22 THE FA 25 Year Referee Awards 23

13 Sussex County FA 35 Year Referee Awards Presented for thirty five years continuous active service as a Sussex County Referee / Assessor / Tutor / Observer Martin Moor First registered 1980, reached Class 2 (Level 4). Acted as an Assistant Referee on the Sussex County Football League, and then referred to women s football along with the East Sussex Football League, the Hastings & East Sussex Sunday Football League and the Lewes & District Football League. He is also a Sussex County FA Referee Observer. John Pike First registered 1980, Level 3 - Contributory Referee. Officiating on Sussex County Football League in 1993 and was promoted to referee on The FA Contributory Leagues in Has been an assistant on the Conference National and South since then with his refereeing highlight coming during the time when he ran the line in front of seven thousand fans at Luton Town. He was the Parafix Sussex Senior Challenge Cup Final referee in Michael Southam First registered 1980, Level 6 - County Referee. Started refereeing in Hampshire before moving to Sussex. Referees on the East Sussex Football League. Steven Walker First registered 1980, Level 5 - Senior County Referee. Achievements include acting as assistant referee for the Sussex Principal RUR Charity Cup Final 2006/07, Sussex County Football League Reserve Section Cup Final referee 2007/08, Sussex County Football League Youth referee of the season 2002/03, Sussex County Football League Closed List Official since 2008, Sussex County Youth Football League referee since 1981 and various Youth Cup Final appointments for ages under-12s upwards. 24 SUSSEX COUNTY FA 35 Year Referee Awards 25

14 THE FA 40 Year Referee Awards Presented for FORTY years continuous active service as a Sussex County Referee / Assessor / Tutor / Observer Keith Brisley First registered 1975, Level 5 - Senior County Referee. Qualified with Kent County FA in 1975 and currently operates as an assistant referee on Southern Combination Football League and a referee on Reserve Section of the league. Referee on the West Sussex Football League, University and Colleges, and Schools Football. Accredited as a County Referee Instructor in July 2002 and qualified as an FA Licensed Referee Instructor in 2005 and currently FA Licensed Referee Tutor - Level 2 status. Became an Assessor in 1993 and then an FA Supply League Assessor, also a Mentor and Observer. He is an active member of the Referees Association, having joined Medway RA in 1975, and then the Worthing RA in Vice Chairman of Worthing Society in 1997 before becoming Chairman in 1998, a position held for twelve years until 2010 and then their President in Served as Sussex County Referees Association Delegate to Sussex County FA from 2001 to 2006 and was County Referees Association President in Selwyn Kemp First registered 1975, Level 5 - Senior County Referee, operating on West Sussex Football League, Chichester & West Sussex Sunday Football League. 26 The FA 40 Year Referee Awards 27

15 THE FA 50 Year Referee Award Presented for fifty years continuous active service as a Referee / Assessor / Tutor / Observer Terence Burstow First registered 1964, his achievements include Class 1 (Level 4) Referee 1978 operating on Isthmian Football League, Sussex County Football League and the Worthing & District Football League. He held many roles with the Worthing & District Football League such as Referees Secretary from 1977 to 1980, Chairman from 1986 to 1999 and President from 1998 to He was also the Sussex County Football League Referees Secretary from 1980 to The FA 50 Year Referee Award 29

16 Young Volunteer of the Year Award Winner Kirsty Donno 1066 Specials FC County Winner THE FA Community Awards presented by McDonald s Kirsty has a passion for disability football, she currently coaches at St. Mary s School twice a week to students aged with a variety of special needs as well as occupying a number of roles within 1066 Specials. Kirsty has the ability to coach and plan sessions to suit a range of disabilities so that every player achieves something out of the training sessions and enjoys themselves. She is able to communicate with players who have hearing difficulties as she can perform sign language. Kirsty has also taken on the task of supporting young people with learning difficulties to get into coaching, she mentors them through their courses and has set up a coaching drills folder to help them, and some of the students / staff members at St. Mary s School and 1066 Specials coaches, develop their coaching skills. As well as coach and mentor Kirsty is also the lead coach for the 1066 Specials junior section and holds the position of the Club Welfare Officer. 30 The FA Community Awards PRESENTED BY McDonald s 31

17 Volunteer of the Year Award Winner Sean Macleod Lewes FC & Together County & Regional Winner Sean has helped raise awareness of mental wellbeing and the positive impact that football can have on those with a mental health condition. With the support of local mental health charity Together and Lewes Community Football Club, Sean came up with the Football Therapy project which has gone from strength to strength in past two years. Sean proved that the idea would work with an initial grant of 100 from Together, and has since pursued funding from various organisations to support and expand the project. Weekly football sessions are offered with a FA Level 2 qualified coach and a mental health support worker. Referrals are made from organisations supporting client s recovery, as well as offering a first point of contact for those who need support and can just turn up to a session. The project has had barriers to overcome as with any new ideas but the perseverance of Sean with his drive and determination has meant that many people have benefitted including individuals who through the project after many years of not working have got back into work. The group have also formed their own friendship and social groups. Sean knew once the project started that for some of the people attending they wanted more than just recreational turn up and play football, so he organised a team to enter in the Sussex Disability Football League. Sean organises all the administration for the team and ensures the players turn up for each fixture. Three members of that team including Sean himself were selected to play in the Sussex Disability Football League representative team. If that wasn t enough, Sean also organised for the second year a national mental wellbeing tournament with sixteen teams from around the country taking part. Charter Standard League of the Year Award Winner Horsham and District Youth Football League County Winner The Horsham & District Youth Football League was the first youth league to attain The FA Charter Standard League status when it was awarded in The accolade came as a result of a lot of hard work from the committee members to prepare the required documentation and work with the clubs along the journey. This work was done to underline the fact that the league is innovative in the way it introduces new procedures to make things easier for the clubs. The leagues registrations is now very slick and has removed the need to cut and paste photos onto card that is then laminated and can get damaged in the English winter weather. The leagues use of Full-Time is extensive and they actively encourage the clubs to use the facilities available to them. With clubs within the league needing to attain FA Charter Standard status the league provides assistance and support through the process to those clubs who require it. The league officers have a wealth of knowledge and experience that they share to ensure any club is able to attain the required standards. The league is also proactive in checking standards at clubs to ensure that all players involved in the competition have the required permissions. Last season the league purchased match footballs for every team as a way to re-invest the funds collected through fines, which unfortunately the league had to impose to ensure fairness to all the member clubs; the majority of whom do comply with the rules. The league committee are enthusiastic to further develop the competition programme and will continue dialogue with the clubs to move the league forwards. 32 The FA Community Awards PRESENTED BY McDonald s 33

18 Charter Standard Club of the Year Award Winner Mile Oak Wanderers FC County Winner Mile Oak Wanderers have had a great season on and off the pitch. They have competed in three leagues and developed all of their players in line with the clubs ethos. This year, they bought every child and coach a Nike training kit and this was achieved by signing up as a Nike Partner Club member and holding a number of fundraising events. The club have built and developed links with other clubs, and have held joint training sessions to help build relationships through football. The club s girls section is now one of the most successful in Sussex. The club have set aside a bursary for coaches to develop themselves and financial support from the club to do so, as well as a bursary for parents who are having financial difficulties and trouble paying fees, and they have reduced the signing on fee for their mini-wanderers scheme for kids aged 4 to 6 years. The girls section has expanded to include 7 to 13 year olds and next year, the club hope to have girls teams from under-7s to under-18s. Special internal awards have also been introduced by the club, such as a Respect Award to one player in each team who has championed The FA s Respect programme, a Special Recognition Award to players who maybe have faced a particularly tough year and Sportsmanship Award to the team with the best overall Sportsmanship score in the leagues they participate in. There are also awards for coaches and adults too with a Coaches Award for the coach who has made the most of their time coaching their kids, and an Outstanding Contribution Award for an adult who has made a difference to the club. Charter Standard Development Club Award Winner Ashington Cougars FC County, Regional & National Winner Ashington is a small village in West Sussex, yet it manages to support a Chartered Development Club, Ashington Cougars, that goes from strength to strength in the Horsham and District Youth Football League. Formed in 1999 with just two teams, by 2009 the club had nine teams and was awarded Chartered Development status. They now support eleven teams from under-6s through to under- 15s, with over one hundred and eighty players. The club is proud of its on-field success, with three teams in the A league and cup and plate final appearances in the last two seasons. However, it is the focus on development of which it is most proud. Since 2011 Cougars has built a strong relationship with the Chelsea Community Foundation and now have almost twenty players at their Elite Training Centres. This relationship has also enabled the club to offer quality coaching sessions to all players of all standards, with individual Chelsea coaches supporting team managers throughout the season and with regular club wide training days supported by the Chelsea team. Cougars have strengthened their squad by recently appointing a UEFA B Licensed Coach Development Officer, BB Beajoui. BB has now observed and reviewed the training of all the teams in the club and provided development plans for each coach. As part of this on-going development he will deliver coach the coaches sessions over the summer. Dedicated goalkeeper sessions are also planned. Ashington Cougars story is not one of silverware but is one of continued growth as a club and of being an important part of the community, but most of all it is about providing safe and enjoyable football opportunities for kids in the local community. 34 The FA Community Awards PRESENTED BY McDonald s 35

19 Charter Standard Community Club Award Winner Horsham Sparrows FC County Winner Horsham Sparrows has been providing football for all ages and abilities since They continue to strive for excellence while delivering football in a safe and fun environment where the emphasis is placed on promoting sportsmanship and respect rather than winning at all costs. The club held their own FA Level 1 Coaching Course which some of the clubs older players attended and they have then been given the opportunity coach the clubs younger teams. Horsham Sparrows are also a strong advocate of The FA mentoring scheme and has not only embraced and benefited from having a mentor allocated and working with them, but has also received high acclaim at national level for the proactive stance adopted in delivering this to their coaches. The club places itself at the forefront of coaching development which, in turn provides a better learning environment for the two hundred plus registered players. People s Choice (Outstanding Contribution to Community Football) Award Winner Malcolm and Sarah Harding Mid Sussex Youth and Minor Football League County Winner Malcolm and Sarah have been involved with the Mid Sussex Youth and Minor Football League for the last 10 years, dedicating countless hours to ensure the smooth running of the league. Malcolm is dedicated to ensuring that young players have the maximum enjoyment and competition to enable to progress in football. He initiated the Mini- Soccer Festival on a monthly basis for the under-7s and under- 8s to improve their development skills in a friendly competition around five years ago, and after starting out with six teams it has grown to a regular forty two team festival, and is one of the League s great success stories. The roles of Fixtures Secretary, Mini Soccer Co-Ordinator, League Cup Co-Ordinator and 3G Co-Ordinator are all occupied by Malcolm and he also sits on the leagues Management Committee. Sarah s main role is that of Referees Secretary, and over the years she has maintained a pool of over sixty qualified referees so that 99.9% of all the league fixtures are allocated a qualified match official for their matches each week. She has nurtured her young referees who have just passed their qualifications and regularly attends matches every weekend to give moral support and any advice where necessary. As well as that, she is the main administrator for the Full-Time system and spends numerous hours to ensure that all is in order. Sarah also collates the Respect marks which are awarded by the match officials throughout the season, and also the Sportsmanship marks where teams are rewarded at the endof-season Awards Evening. Sarah has also introduced an under-18s Floodlit Cup competition and is instigating Futsal events for several age groups. 36 The FA Community Awards PRESENTED BY McDonald s 37

20 THE FA Long Service Award 50 Year Award Presented for fifty years service to football Gareth Flemington Service History: 1965 Player for Henrys United Football Club in the Premier Division of the Sussex Sunday Football League 1966 Secretary and player for Horley Casuals Football Club in the Sussex Sunday Football League 1968 Player for Crawley Traders Football Club in the Sussex Sunday Football League 1970 Secretary and player for Crawley Post Office Football Club in the Brighton Mid-Week Football League 1978 Secretary for Beechams Football Club in the Crawley & District Football League 1979 Club Delegate at Crawley & District Football League Registration, Referees, Deputy Chairman, Chairman and Life Member of Crawley & District Football League Referee, Assessor, Divisional Co-ordinator for the Sussex County FA Elected to the Sussex County FA Council 2000 Chairman, President and founding member of the Sussex County Women s & Girls Football League Sussex County FA Director 2008 Elected Sussex County FA Senior Council Member 2013 Sussex County FA Director 2015 Deputy Chairman Sussex County FA 38 The FA Long Service Award 39

21 sussex county fa Culver Road, Lancing, West Sussex, BN15 9AX telephone: +44 (0) visit: Programme design by fiona brown printed by Claren Print: