Many clubs and leagues are indebted to their ‘Media Managers’ to share news and information so they can function effectively, so our #CelebrateEssex Twitter competition is recognising the unpaid efforts of these grassroots volunteer legends!

#CelebrateEssex showcases profiles of local football heroes, increasing their visibility as role models to engage new members and inspire them to join the grassroots community as volunteers. We're inviting Media Manager nominations until Thursday 9th January, when submissions will be assessed to decide who’ll feature in a poll to identify the latest winner.

Volunteers are the lifeblood of grassroots football, putting in countless hours of their time so others can enjoy playing. The game needs more helpers, but it also needs to retain and recognise those already involved. Through this monthly Twitter competition, #CelebrateEssex aims to do just that, promoting ten different roles throughout the year.

Modern Media Managers (often titled as ‘Press Officers’) need proficient communication skills and creativity as the public face representing their club, league or organisation. They provide creative content for websites and social media, whether that be written or audio/video, regularly networking to ensure they can be both reactive and proactive.

January’s category is brand new for the 2019/20 season and has been scheduled to coincide with the New Year, a time when marketing staff often appraise the previous year’s achievements and plan ahead. Future categories will feature: February: Coach (Youth and Adult), March: Footie Mum, April: Treasurer, May: Secretary, June: Chairperson.

#CelebrateEssex captured the imagination of the community during 2018/19, resulting in media coverage plus thousands of Twitter interactions. 104 nominations were made, with 8,703 votes cast, and all nominees were publicly thanked. This led to a special commendation in the County FA Recognition Awards ‘Digital Engagement’ category, staged by The FA in June.

Stage One: Make Your Nomination on Twitter

If you know a Media Manager who you think should receive some special thanks, anyone can make a nomination by tweeting (by 9th January):

“I nominate [Insert Name or Twitter Username] from [Insert Club/Team or Twitter Username] as the @EssexCountyFA #CelebrateEssex Media Manager winner because…”

State why your nominee should be the winner and be as descriptive as you can in 280 characters! It’s important to use the #CelebrateEssex hashtag to ensure your entry is registered.

Stage Two: Nominations Reviewed

Once the window closes, all the nominations received will be collated and a panel will decide which individuals will be progressed to the Twitter poll/vote...

Stage Three: Let Voting Commence!

A Twitter poll/vote will be available at @EssexCountyFA for seven days, featuring profiles of the nominees so voters can make an informed decision on who to vote for.

Stage Four: And Our Winner Is…

The winner of the poll will be contacted to be that month’s ‘Volunteer of the Month’, who’ll receive a prize, publicity and an invitation to the Essex County FA’s 2020 Awards Evening.

Follow the #CelebrateEssex hashtag on Twitter to keep track of the competition! To find out more about volunteering in grassroots Essex football, browse the 'Volunteers' menu above, follow @EssexCountyFA on Twitter and search for ‘EssexFootball’ on Facebook.

#CelebrateEssex Terms and Conditions

* prizes must relate to the category the individual has won
* previous category winners are ineligible for 2019/20 nomination
* irregular voting patterns could result in the suspension of a category