Today
The Sheffield and Hallamshire County FA still exists today, administering the Sheffield and Hallamshire County Senior League and Sheffield Sports and Athletic League outside of the FA, although its members may join the FA proper, as Sheffield and Hallam have done.
Sheffield and Hallamshire County Football Association was established in 1886 and is responsible for the administration, control, promotion and development of Association Football within a twenty-mile radius of Sheffield Cathedral. In June 2001, the Association was incorporated into a Private Company Limited by Guarantee (without a Share Capital). The financial aim of the Association is that any surpluses are used to further the development of footballing activities in the region.
The principal aims of the Sheffield and Hallamshire County Football Association Limited are to manage, develop and regulate football within the defined boundary in order to “use the power of football to build a better future”.
The County FA aims to increase participation, quality and the enjoyment of football through 4 key 'strategic pillars':
- 'Football for life': lifelong participation in football
- 'Opportunities for all' to participate in football
- 'Football in Education’: focus on children/youth
- 'Club Development’: clubs focused on development
The Association employs 18 full-time and part-time members of staff and offers a wide range of services to both its members and the local community. These services include the following:
- Supports and administers clubs, league fixtures, referees, player registrations, representative football, a benevolent fund and cup competitions within the region for over 120,000 participants.
- Upholds the Laws of the Game and ensures that all participants adhere to these laws through a fair discipline process.
- Develops football ensuring that all members of society have access to the game without exclusion or prejudice.
- Supports clubs, schools and other community groups to provide a safe and quality football experience for their participants, through a Charter Standard Scheme. This scheme also seeks to strengthen communities through the Community Club Award, providing a “cradle to grave” football experience for all members of the community.
- Works in partnership with other agencies, including local authorities, local education authorities, schools, colleges, community groups, etc. to develop both individuals and groups through football.
- Works with under represented groups including girls/women, youth, ethnic minorities, refugees and disabled participants.
- Assists in securing grants and other funding for grassroots clubs and other community organisations designed to help them improve facilities, participation and quality.
- Provides an extensive Coach Education and Medical Course Programme ensuring that all participants, often through subsidies, have access to quality provision and are able to “better themselves”.
The Sheffield & Hallamshire FA’s Governance Department has responsibility for all traditional aspects of the game, such as Membership Services, Discipline, County Cups, Player Registrations, Small Sided Football, Referees and PR and Marketing.
The Football Development Department manages, with a diverse range of partners, a football development programme for the football community in the area which includes a comprehensive education programme, covering all aspects of the game, with courses being run throughout the area. They also deal with Child Protection, Charter Standard, Women’s and Girls Football, Volunteer Development, Representative Football, a Schools Programme, Equity, Social Inclusion, Mini Soccer and grant funding through the Football Foundation.
It is of interest to note that the Sheffield & Hallamshire FA has in excess of 4500 affiliated teams and over 900 referees. The County runs seven cup competitions, two Representative Teams, and provides a service to a football community of approximately 120,000 people within the area each week.
Recently the County FA has won two National Football Development Awards for it’s work with Small Sided Football and Girls and Women’s Football. This is addition to being short listed for the Yorkshire & Humberside Business in the Community Award.
Read more about this topic: Sheffield And Hallamshire County Football Association
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