Nominations are being collected for the latest category of the our #CelebrateEssex Twitter competition until Wednesday 18th May, highlighting the ‘Secretaries’ whose unpaid efforts make the local grassroots game tick.

#CelebrateEssex shines a light on the crucial volunteers who keep football alive at grassroots level. 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 via the @EssexCountyFA account, a final voting stage will then 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 of these true heroes, 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.

Last year’s ‘Secretary’ winner was Christian Waugh from Ridgeway Rovers FC, and the final 2021/22 category will name a winning ‘Chairperson’ in June. “Congratulations to all of this season’s winners,” commented Essex County FA Football Development Officer, Lana Gillard. “It’s a privilege to be able to celebrate so many deserving volunteers, who are the lifeblood of grassroots football.”

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 18th May):

“I nominate [Insert Name and/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 2021/22 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