We're looking for football enthusiasts, players, volunteers, coaches and corporate professionals who’d like to volunteer their expertise as we seek to fill two voluntary vacancies for Independent Non-Executive Directors.

Essex is one of the largest County FAs in the country, with more than 4,500 teams, and we’re committed to maintaining a structure of diverse skills, experience and backgrounds which can add value to the game. An open application process is being run to attract and recruit the best people for the roles, with submissions required by 10:00am on Thursday 29th October.

The Essex County FA ‘Moving Forward’ Strategy for 2018-2021 outlines a strategic vision to “create a united grassroots football environment which delivers football opportunity for all.” One of those objectives is to ensure that the corporate governance structure of the Essex County FA is operating effectively and efficiently.

To support this, The FA have developed the County FA Code of Governance, which the Essex County FA have committed, at Board level, to achieving. The recruitment of Independent Non-Executive Directors will assist us in achieving this.

An individual who can support the County FA in achieving that objective is now being sought, as Chief Executive, Brendan Walshe, explains: “A key objective within our Moving Forward Strategy was to work towards achieving the UK Code of Sports Governance. Then, in February 2020, The FA launched the FA Code of Governance for County FAs, which is based on the same principles and standards of governance.”

“Since then, the Essex FA have been reviewing this code and have begun the process of working towards these standards, which will help to ensure the Board has the correct balance of independents, skills and diversity which reflect our community in Essex, as well as helping to ensure the Essex County FA continue to improve and evolve in the years ahead.”

“There are many skilled individuals within the football community from all sectors of industry such as business, financial, professional, commercial, corporate, HR and political backgrounds. This Independent Director recruitment process will enable people who have a passion for football, and high-level expertise gained from professional or voluntary roles, to apply directly to serve on our Board.”

Chairman, Andy Chaplin, also explained: “The Board discussed this and are fully supportive. Essex has an abundance of skilled individuals from a variety of sectors and we're looking forward to the Independent Director recruitment process and meeting individuals, in both the professional and voluntary sectors, who are passionate about local football.”

“Achieving the County FA Code of Governance is an important objective within our Moving Forward Strategy which the Board are keen to work towards. It's important our Board is reflective of the diverse Essex community so we can continue to evolve as best we can for the benefit of local football.”

Details of the skills and experience required, as well as our organisational values and the application process, can be found below. Grassroots football news can also be found on Twitter @EssexCountyFA and by searching for ‘EssexFootball’ on Facebook.