Cambridgeshire FA and The FA would like to thank those individuals that have made a difference and if a league has really committed itself to the highest standards of Respect and Fair Play then they might be in line for some 'money can't buy' prizes.
To start off we will be inviting league to complete a short application form and submit it electronically to The FA by 5pm on Friday, March 16th.
The FA will check with Cambridgeshire FA to ensure everything is above board and will then run the scheme.
There are four levels in which leagues can be recognised:
Commended: The level one award seeks to thank those leagues who have committed themselves to the Respect programme and implemented the key criteria (which has been signed off by Cambridgeshire FA). Each league at level one will receive a letter of thanks from The FA and two gifts for the individuals nominated.
Bronze: Cambridgeshire FA will nominate the outstanding leagues in the county that warrent a higher level of recognition. These leagues will fulfil all of the minimum criteria, suggested good practice and perhaps some additional elements of their own. The rewards for these leagues are:
- 5 high quality Respect branded footballs
- A £100 affiliation voucher for use with Cambridgeshire FA
- Use of an enhanced Respect identity that can be used exclusively by these leagues to promote their commitment to high standards of behaviour .
Silver: Cambridgeshire FA will identify the adult and youth leagues in the county which deserve consideration for a regional award. The winners will be invited to choose a 'money can't buy' prize. This could include having The FA Cup at a local league's cup final or having a celebrity football speaker at a league function. A league could even stage its cup final at The FA's new national coaching centre, St George's Park in Burton-on-Trent, or enjoy VIP hospitality at an England international at Wembley Stadium.
Gold: The very best youth and adult leagues in the country will also be considered for a FA Respect Award with the winners receiving a cash prize of up to £2,000 and an invitation to collect their award at the 2012 FA Cup Final.
The CFA’s Respect Lead Officer, Gerry Daish, commented: 'Without the support of volunteer administrators we don’t have a game in this country. The Rewards scheme will provide us with an opportunity to say ‘Thank You’ to some invaluable people for their commitment to Respect and raising standards.'
Full information on the scheme can be found at www.respectfootballclub.com