Affiliation
Joining the Essex Football Club Community
club affiliatION DETAILS FOR 2022/23 SEASON
Online FA Whole Game System
The affiliation window opened on Monday 9th May 2022 to enable clubs to begin the process as soon as they are in a position to do so.
2022/23 Season Affiliation Fees
Club Fees: Senior (Football League and Step 1) £125, Senior (Steps 2-4) £100, Senior (Steps 5-6) £90, Senior (Step 7) £60, All Junior Clubs £35, All Youth Clubs £35, All Additional Teams £12
Cup Entry Fees: Senior Cup £80, Saturday/Sunday Premier Cup £27, All Other County Cups £15
Leagues: Leagues with 1 or 2 Divisions £30, Leagues with 3 or More Divisions £40, Youth Leagues with 1 or 2 Age Groups £30, Youth Leagues with 3 or More Age Groups £40
Late Affiliation Fee 2022/23: £25
Insurance
We partner with specialist sports insurance broker, Sportsguard, to offer Legal (Public) Liability and Personal Accident Insurance.
As part of that partnership for the 2022/23 season, we will continue to pay 100% of the Sportsguard Legal (Public) Liability costs for all eligible grassroots clubs as part of their affiliation, as well as contributing almost 50% towards Sportsguard Personal Accident cover up to the minimum requirements.
A dedicated page has been created on the Sportsguard website containing useful information and FAQs, which you can access here.
Any Questions? If you have a question regarding the affiliation process, please contact the relevant member of our Affiliations Team:
Group One (Braintree, Colchester, Maldon, Tendring): Martin Angelo (01245) 393080 or martin.angelo@essexfa.com
Group Two (Brentwood, Chelmsford, Epping Forest, Harlow, Uttlesford): Cairo Duncan (01245) 393081 or cairo.duncan@essexfa.com
Group Three (Basildon, Castle Point, Rochford, Southend-on-Sea, Thurrock): Robert Craven (01245) 393082 or robert.craven@essexfa.com
Group Four (Barking & Dagenham, Havering, Newham, Redbridge, Waltham Forest): Fran Smith (01245) 393083 or fran.smith@essexfa.com
Using the FA Whole Game System
To affiliate for the 2022/23 season, visit the FA Whole Game System (WGS) portal via this link. The affiliation process is conducted electronically through the Whole Game System. Club secretaries should visit the portal to test their FA Number (FAN) and password details are correct.
Individuals requiring a new password can also do this here. You’ll require your E-Mail Address or FAN, plus your date of birth, and an E-Mail will then be sent with a link to set a new password. If you have any problems attempting to log into the system, please do not hesitate to contact the County Office.
Youth Club Requirements
All youth clubs require a Club Welfare Officer who holds a valid FA DBS (Disclosure & Barring Service) Check and who has completed a Safeguarding Children Workshop and a Welfare Officer Workshop.
It is also a mandatory requirement for each chairperson, secretary, treasurer and welfare officer of clubs with youth teams to have undertaken an online ‘Safeguarding for Committee Members’ Course (link below). Should the identities of these officers change at a club during the season, they will also have to have completed the course prior to being permitted to be in role.
Furthermore, each individual who is managing or coaching players within a club is required to be detailed on the relevant team page within the FA Whole Game System (WGS), even if this changes during the season. When the individual is entered onto WGS, they will be required to be in the process of obtaining an FA DBS Check. However, for an affiliation to be accepted, this FA DBS will be required to have been completed.
Click here for our courses section or here for the Safeguarding for Committee Members Course.
Safeguarding 16/17-Year-Olds Playing in Open-Age Football - Action Required
Following communication from The FA, all County FAs are now sharing requirements and best practice of safeguarding across grassroots affiliated football which encompasses 16/17-year-olds playing in open-age football.
The communication confirms that everyone working (i.e. coaching/managing) with under 18s, whether in youth or open-age adult football, are subject to The FA’s Safeguarding Policy and Procedures, underpinned by legislation. Having undertaken an audit on the FA Whole Game System, some clubs have been highlighted as having 16/17-year-old players.
Where 16- and 17-year-olds will be playing in the team, the coaching/management team require an FA DBS. If the club also have a youth section, the Club Welfare Officer may be able to assist with the DBS. If this is not possible, please contact Helen (details below), who will be able to offer support.
Listed below are areas which these clubs will now need to consider, with the intention to implement. We recognise this will be a change in practice for some clubs and would, therefore, like to take this opportunity to share that our Designated Safeguarding Officer Helen Hever and colleague, Chloe Hookins, are here to support and assist clubs in this process.
* DBS (Disclosure Barring Service) Checks - coaches/managers and assistants, first aiders and Club Welfare Officer
* Adopting a Safeguarding Children Policy
* Appointing a Club Welfare Officer
* Sharing “Know your Rights” with 16/17-year-old players
The links below offer information, guidance and templates:
Full Guidance, Including Downloads (e.g. Safeguarding Children Policy)
Guidance and Information for 16/17-Year-Olds Participating in Open-Age Football
Contact Details
Helen Hever, Designated Safeguarding Officer, helen.hever@essexfa.com, (01245) 393098
County Cups
We currently organise 22 County Cup competitions. For season 2022/23, the following competitions will be running:
BBC Essex Senior Cup, BBC Essex Saturday Premier Cup, Saturday Junior Cup, Saturday Junior Trophy, Saturday Veterans Cup, Saturday Veterans Trophy, Sunday Premier Cup, Sunday Junior Cup, Sunday Junior Trophy, Sunday Veterans Cup, BBC Essex Women's Cup, Women's Trophy, Pelly Under 18s Cup, Cassels Under 16s Cup, Rosser Under 15s Cup, Andrews Under 14s Cup, Cordell Under 13s Cup, Under 12s Cup (9v9 Competition), Under 18s Girls Cup, Under 16s Girls Cup, Under 14s Girls Cup, Under 12s Girls Cup (9v9 Competition).
Click here to view the County Cups 'Pyramid' file.
New Clubs
The first step for any new club is to contact us to agree a name. You will not be allowed to have a name that is similar to one that already exists or is unsuitable, and it's recommended to have several different alternatives in mind before you contact the County Office.
Other initial steps are to contact your local leagues to ensure that there is a place for your club, and pitch providers to make sure that you have somewhere to play. Our Club Affiliation Guide can be found in 'Related Documents' below.