THE annual Gloucestershire FA Community Awards evening proved more enthralling and popular than ever – and for two local clubs there was double delight to savour, writes Simon Parkinson.

While Bradley Stoke Youth carried off the Charter Standard Community Club of the Year prize, their coach, Matthew Smith, who plays a key role in supporting both the club’s schools and mentoring programmes as well as coaching girls, ladies and disability teams, happily collected the Young Volunteer of the Year accolade during the prestigious presentation ceremony held at the county association’s headquarters in Almondsbury.

Gloucestershire County Women’s League also had more than one reason to celebrate as it not only won the Charter Standard League of the Year category but one of its enthusiastic member clubs, Cheltenham Spa Ladies, picked up the Charter Standard Development Club distinction.

The awards, the seventh to be staged by the GFA, set out to recognise and reward volunteers who help keep local football alive and kicking within their own communities. Winners are awarded at local, county and national level.

GFA football development officer and organiser Jason Lee said of the 2016 Gloucestershire awards: “Our own presentations seem to get more popular each year and this latest one is no exception.

“In the seven years we have been hosting them this was our biggest, attracting more than 50 nominations for the various categories.

“As always it was a fantastic occasion and each of the categories were extremely hard-fought and tough to call; there was precious little to choose between the winners and the highly commended.”

Bradley Stoke Youth received the vote in the Community Club section for their sterling work in delivering a school/club link programme in which 14 schools participate. They have also developed ladies and disability teams while implementing a Coach Mentoring Programme to support young coaches, female players and coaching volunteers.

Gloucestershire County Women’s League came through adversity to claim their award after losing their chairman, secretary and treasurer at the end of the 2014-15 season. After working closely with the GFA to recruit new committee members and additional female and male referees, the league was soon back on its feet and is now identifying support it can offer to clubs as well as piloting a ‘player pool’ for the new season.

Cheltenham Spa Ladies claimed the Charter Standard Development distinction after delivering a successful girls football festival to encourage young females to try football.

They were recognised too for their drive in offering a clear pathway from girls to women’s football, for ensuring their licensed coaches are provided with CPD opportunities and for their close association with the FA Skills Team to develop “additional opportunities”.

The annual Oaklands Park occasion produced many more worthy winners and highly commended clubs and individuals.

In their 25th anniversary year, Hardwicke Rangers achieved Charter Standard Club of the Year status for their efforts in offering football for under-8s through to under-18s while forming links with local men’s teams. They also worked closely with the GFA’s County Coach Developer to deliver a Hardwicke Youth Module 1 course.

Leckhampton Rovers, who provide football for more than 280 players ranging from youth to veterans while developing a hub with University of Gloucestershire to develop coaches, were highly commended, as were Longlevens in the Development Club class after becoming Respect and Fair Play award winners for the Hellenic Premier Division while praised for their provision of football for under-6s to open age groups.

Longlevens also worked closely with the GFA to develop a coaching workforce ahead of the FA Coach Mentor Programme they will utilise next season.

Bristol club Longwell Green Sports were highly commended too, in the Charter Standard Community Club category, as they not only developed a club DNA last season which is now supported by four club mentors, but they set up a session for toddlers as well as establishing a girls’ development group to aid progression into four senior sides.

Following hard on the heels of Gloucestershire County Women’s League’s success in the Charter Standard League class were the highly commended men’s Gloucestershire County League on the strength of their provision of an annual coach CPD event in partnership with the GFA, and their delivery of a ‘club matters’ finance workshop to ensure clubs are sustainable.

The league, the large gathering at Oaklands Park was told, continues to promote the FA Respect Programme, with clubs rewarded for good discipline records.

Meanwhile Longwell Green Sports’ tireless member and Jack-of-all-trades Paul Griffin claimed the Volunteer of the Year honour. Paul set up Longwell Little’uns to deliver sessions for toddlers and is now looking to introduce a disability section to the club as well.

Lebeq’s long-serving secretary Errol Thompson, who sits on the GFA’s anti-discrimination committee and has played a lead role in encouraging players from deprived areas of Bristol to take up the game, was highly commended in the Volunteer of the Year category.

The People’s Choice Outstanding Contribution to Community Football Award went to Brockworth Albion’s servant of 30 years Andy Price, who has played, managed and held committee roles at the set-up neighbouring Gloucester.

Andy was instrumental in the launch of Brockworth Junior FC, which 18 years on offers football for under-6s to under-14s. He has also organised more than ten tournaments while spearheading the development and refurbishments of the new Mill Lane Pavilion.

Close behind him on the night was highly commended Rob Hetherington, who has been associated with Cribbs for 39 years as a player, manager and committee member in various roles.

Rob, a member of the Bristol & District and Bristol Premier Combination leagues, formed the Cribbs Sports and Social Club in 2012, which provides financial support for all its teams.

As is customary, the GFA made its own special awards presentations separate to those of the community hand-outs.

Tetbury Town’s Ian Jones, who gives up 30 to 40 hours a week to ensure their Preston Park pitch is in tip-top shape, was named FA Groundsman of the Year for Gloucestershire (Step 7 and below), while the Bob Lethaby Award, which has been a feature since 1983 and is presented to teams who have persevered in the face of adversity, was given to Tewkesbury Town Colts Girls Under-14s, who came through a testing season with flying colours.

GFA chairman and FA vice-chairman Roger Burden, who again led the presentations and conducted a question and answer session with award winners and their supporters related to his role with the game’s national governing body, spoke of his admiration for all the county’s football volunteers.

He stressed that without their hard work, devotion and loyalty, the local game simply wouldn’t be in a position to offer so many people; young, old, male and female, not to mention participants with disabilities, the chance to play.