Have your say on the future of the game!

By Chris Evans

History is in the making at the Essex County F.A. as a countywide Consultation Programme is underway to shape the future of the nation’s number one sport locally in conjunction with the Football Association’s National Game Strategy for 2008-2012.

Questionnaires have been distributed amongst member clubs, referees and local leagues and organisations in a bid to gain public opinion on areas such as Growth & Retention, Raising Standards and Player Development, and now members of the general footballing fraternity are being invited to get their contributions in before the Monday 28th January deadline to be entered into a prize draw for £500 worth of Umbro sports kit.

The F.A. National Game Strategy replaces the old Football Development Strategy which ran until 2006. Over the past eighteen months, The F.A. has undergone an intense consultation process throughout grassroots football, examining the challenges facing the game and ways in which they can lead it in the future. The result is the new Strategy, which governs the way the E.C.F.A. will run and develop the game up to and including 2012.

Speaking of the importance of feedback from grassroots individuals, E.C.F.A. County Development Manager Nick Perchard explained: “Everyone has different experiences within the game and it’s vital we get a wide range of opinions as we wouldn’t want to develop an initiative that was helpful to one group and impossible for others to work with. This Questionnaire will help to mould the format of the consultation events which we will be holding around the County.”

“The ideas provided in these responses will be grouped into four regions to assess any differences depending on geographical location. The ideas will then be expanded upon at the four regional events, one for each area of Essex in February and March, where other people will have the opportunity to agree or disagree and help to develop action plans for the C.F.A.,” Nick continued.

Questionnaires are available to download from www.essexfa.com or can be obtained by E-Mail at info@essexfa.com or by phone at (01245) 393085. All completed forms will be entered into a Prize Draw, with the winning entry receiving £500 worth of Umbro sports equipment of their choice. However, the E.C.F.A. will be delighted to receive responses right the way through until the end of March, at which point the final document that will become the E.C.F.A. Four-Year strategy will start to be compiled.

Chris Evans (Press & Publicity Officer)
Essex County Football Association
The County Office , Springfield Lyons Approach
Chelmsford, Essex , CM2 5LB

Tel: (01245) 393085. Fax: (01245) 393089
E-Mail: chris.evans@essexfa.com
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