#CelebrateEssex is back for the 2020/21 season as we invite nominations until Thursday 17th September so we can crown a winner in the ‘Young Volunteer’ competition category via the @EssexCountyFA Twitter account.

The popular contest returns for the new campaign to help recognise some of local grassroots football’s unsung heroes. #CelebrateEssex showcases personal stories from local legends, increasing their visibility as role models to engage new members and inspire them to join the grassroots community as volunteers.

Volunteers are the lifeblood of grassroots football, putting in countless hours of their time so others can enjoy playing football. 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.

September is the month of the ‘Young Volunteer’ category. Essex is fortunate to have a large number of talented individuals who are determined to develop themselves and emerge as the next generation of the local game. They coach and work with teams, referee, run events, promote the sport and champion the Respect Campaign.

The category has been specifically chosen to take place in September to coincide with the launch of the FA Playmaker Course. Future months will feature: October: Welfare Officer, November: Footie Dad, December: Football Family, January: Media Manager, February: Coach (Youth and Adult), March: Footie Mum, April: Treasurer, May: Secretary, June: Chairperson.

Last year’s Young Volunteer winner was Spencer Hume from the Essex & Suffolk Border League. The up and coming media star reacted: “I do what I do because I enjoy it. I love reporting on local football. Once you’ve done it for a while you start to know everyone: all the players, the referees, the managers. It’s great! If you get the opportunity to do it, then just do it. I’ve never looked back.”

Stage One: Make Your Nomination on Twitter

If you know a Young Volunteer who you think should receive some special thanks, anyone can make a nomination by tweeting (by 17th September):

“I nominate [Insert Name or Twitter Username] from [Insert Club/Team or Twitter Username] as @EssexCountyFA #CelebrateEssex Young Volunteer 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’!

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 2020/21 nomination
* irregular voting patterns could result in the suspension of a category

Playmaker Course Supports More Active Role In Football
New Online Grassroots Learning from The FA Goes Live

Open to anyone aged 14+, the completely free FA Playmaker Course is providing current and future volunteers in grassroots football with a new, entry-level course which will help them to get involved and create fun, safe and inclusive experiences.

Supported by BT, FA Playmaker requires no previous experience or qualifications in the game prior to signing-up and, over five modules, it focuses on the brilliant basics of football, providing a toolkit anyone can make the most of. If you would like to take the FA Playmaker course, you can sign-up right now via this link.