Know a ‘Chairperson’ who is at the forefront of their club or league’s ongoing operations and drives forward the development of local grassroots football? The #CelebrateEssex Twitter competition is welcoming nominations by Wednesday 8th July so these legends can be recognised for the crucial and pivotal role they play.

#CelebrateEssex showcases the profiles of local heroes, increasing their visibility as role models to engage new members and inspire them to join the grassroots community as volunteers. We're inviting submissions to be tweeted to @EssexCountyFA, then four finalists will ultimately feature in a vote to identify the winner.

July is the month of the #CelebrateEssex Chairperson. This person oversees the running of a club or league, ensuring it is operating efficiently and is managed appropriately. They will head-up meetings and provide leadership in all areas, such as tournaments etc. At the heart of a well-run club is an organised and passionate chairperson.

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.

Last year’s Chairperson winner was Keith Di Palma from Tigers JFC in Hornchurch. He commented: “I wouldn’t be in the role if I didn’t enjoy every aspect of it. It’s been a major part of my life for the last 20 years. If you’re thinking of becoming a grassroots football volunteer, stop thinking about it and just jump straight in and get involved!”

“The best thing you can ever get out of volunteering is the result of teaching your knowledge to any individual willing to listen and then watching them flourish into budding, enthusiastic football players. Most importantly, by volunteering, you are gaining a network of new friends who will live your dreams with you, watching their children grow up along the way.”

Stage One: Make Your Nomination on Twitter

If you know a Chairperson who you think should receive some special thanks, anyone can make a nomination by tweeting (by 8th July):

“I nominate [Insert Name or Twitter Username] from [Insert Club/League or Twitter Username] as the @EssexCountyFA #CelebrateEssex Chairperson 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 and extra publicity.

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