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Presentation Time at County HQ Birmingham FA will be recognising the work of countless volunteers during a special Presentation Evening to be held at County HQ on Monday 6th October. Representatives from Birmingham County, The FA and Community Partner McDonalds will be on hand to say "well done" to winners of a whole range of categories from all across The Black Country, Birmingham and Warwickshire. Fair Play Awards - rewarding positive play Each Youth League has been asked to name their top team based on a criteria which includes disciplinary records, attention to club administration and attendance at league meetings. Birmingham FA will make 12 awards to winners - one from each League. The top Girls and Boys clubs will be given a terrific boost by the mystery prize on offer to the County Fair Play Winners, which has been donated by The Football Association! Football Workforce Awards - recognising the role of Volunteers Those already working within the game have been asked to nominate volunteers who they feel deserve a pat on the back for their efforts – for a whole host of reasons! Birmingham FA has already issued 10 Certificates of Merit, and will make presentations to 5 County Football Workforce Award Winners. FA Charter Standard Awards - setting examples at high standards Having Charter Standard status shows that certain criteria set by football's governing body has been met. Awards are made each year to recognise the work done by schools, clubs and individuals involved in the initiative. Birmingham FA will announce who are this year's Charter Standard Coach and Administrator at County level, along with Charter Standard Club and School awards. The evening is a great opportunity to celebrate the news that Black Country based Withymoor Colts FC has not only scooped the County award for the top Charter Standard Club, but has been declared top in the West Midlands region too. Birmingham City Ladies FC has gone one step further by bagging the National award for Charter Standard Adult Clubs, receiving their award on the pitch at Old Trafford during half time of the recent Euro 2004 Qualifier. Representatives from both clubs are due to attend on October 6th to collect their County Charter Standard Award. A full round-up of winners will be issued after the awards have been made. Sutton Soccer Girls Get Set to Strike! Girls in Sutton Coldfield now have a football team of their own, formed from a partnership between Birmingham County FA and the city council's "Strikes" football scheme. Sutton Strikes FC has built its ranks from girls who attend the weekly Soccer Centre, launched at Wyndley Leisure Centre over 12 months ago. They will now be put to the test in a league which has been set up to provide competitive opportunities for newly formed clubs. An U10 and an U12 team will join around 15 other outfits from the Birmingham area to take part in the central venue competition which kicks off on October 4th at Nechells Sports Centre. It will operate closely with the well established Central Warwickshire Girls League and offers the chance to gain vital match experience, the possibility of promotion – but most importantly provides lots of fun! "Sutton Strikes FC is a great example of what Birmingham County FA and its partners can achieve," said Birmingham County Girls & Women's FDO, Heather Cowan. "The girls have attended the Strikes Soccer Centre, been taught by coaches with FA qualifications and are now ready to enter their first competition. The club will be managed by two of the girls" parents who have gained their own Level 1 Coaching qualifications via our Coach Education programme! "Not only has girls" football taken a big step forward in Sutton Coldfield, but it has been done in the best way, by consulting the experts and setting high standards from the start," added Heather. "The commitment and enthusiasm was there - the only thing lacking was some team colours!" When kit manufacturers, GX Soccer learned of the predicament, they quickly stepped in and presented the club with enough shirts, shorts and socks to make sure the girls look their best when they run out on the pitch: "We know that a great deal of hard work has gone into starting this new team, by the girls, their parents and the coaches," said GX Soccer's Carolyn Weston. "I'm glad we could play a part in the club's development and hope that they really enjoy playing in their new strip. Football is such a popular sport for girls now, so we hope that our donation is the start of something great for these players and an investment in football's future!" For more information on Girls Football in Sutton Coldfield and The Black Country, Birmingham or Warwickshire, contact Birmingham County FA's Development Team on 0121 682 2525. For a closer look at the kit the team will be sporting, along with other sports goods and accessories, visit www.gxsoccer.com. |