Nominations are being collected for the latest category of the our #CelebrateEssex Twitter/X competition until Friday 29th March, with ‘Footie Mums’ being highlighted this month via the @EssexCountyFA account.

#CelebrateEssex shines a light on the crucial volunteers whose unpaid efforts make the local grassroots game tick. It showcases personal stories from local personalities and increases their visibility as role models, encouraging new faces to come forward. Once all the nominations have been collated, a final voting stage will then identify the latest winner.

March is the month of the ‘Footie Mum’ category. A Footie Mum could be due a special mention for the support they offer their son or daughter before, during or after a game in any number of ways. They could help to make sure their ‘star player’ gets to training safely, enjoys participating in matches and is supported to do their best, providing encouragement… win, lose or draw.

Volunteers are the lifeblood of grassroots football, putting in countless hours of their time so others can enjoy playing the game. Football needs more of these true heroes, but it also needs to retain and recognise those already involved. Through this regular Twitter/X activity, #CelebrateEssex aims to do just that, promoting ten different roles throughout the year. Last year’s winner was Victoria Crockford from East Thurrock United YFC.

Stage One: Make Your Nomination on Twitter/X

If you know a ‘Footie Mum’ who you think should receive some special thanks, anyone can make a nomination by tweeting (by 29th March):

“I nominate [Insert Name and/or Twitter/X Username] from [Insert Club/Team or Twitter/X Username] as @EssexCountyFA #CelebrateEssex Footie Mum 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 final poll/vote.

Stage Three: Let Voting Commence!

A poll/vote will be available on this page 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/X to keep track of the nominations! To find out more about volunteering in grassroots Essex football, browse the 'Volunteers' menu above, follow @EssexCountyFA on Twitter/X and search for ‘EssexFootball’ on Facebook.

#CelebrateEssex Terms and Conditions

* previous category winners are ineligible for 2023/24 voting
* irregular voting patterns could result in the suspension of a category
* The voting system’s interpretation of the vote winner, as viewed by @EssexCountyFA, is final