Our #CelebrateEssex Twitter contest is inviting ‘Secretary’ category nominations until Wednesday 19th May, recognising the unpaid efforts of the grassroots game’s local volunteer legends and unsung heroes.

#CelebrateEssex showcases personal stories from Essex grassroots personalities, increasing their visibility as role models to engage new members and inspire newcomers to join the community as volunteers. The monthly competition is organised via the @EssexCountyFA account and, once nominations close, the final voting stage on Twitter will identify the latest winner.

May is the month of the ‘Secretary’ category. The secretary is one of the most important roles in a club or league, and is the main point of contact with a County FA, team managers and other clubs or leagues. The secretary will look after the administrative duties and make vital off-pitch arrangements which help players to enjoy games on the field.

Volunteers are the lifeblood of grassroots football, putting in countless hours of their time so others can enjoy playing the game. Football needs more helpers, but it also needs to retain and recognise those already involved. Through this regular Twitter activity, #CelebrateEssex aims to do just that, promoting ten different roles throughout the year. June will feature the Chairperson category.

2020’s Secretary winner was Charlie Mills from Great Bradfords FC, who said: "I do what I do because I love football. I want the players - boys, girls, men and women - to have somewhere to play. Football is for everyone and it’s so important that we play an active part in that. To anyone wanting to get involved, I say don’t hesitate... do it!"

Stage One: Make Your Nomination on Twitter

If you know a Secretary who you think should receive some special thanks, anyone can make a nomination by tweeting (by 19th May):

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

* previous category winners are ineligible for 2020/21 voting
* irregular voting patterns could result in the suspension of a category
* Twitter’s interpretation of the vote winner, as viewed by @EssexCountyFA, is final