The FA Charter Standard Community Awards Ceremony 2016 were held at the Gloucestershire FA, Oaklands Park on 22nd June, hosted by David Neale GFA Chief Executive and Roger Burden, FA vice-chairman and chair of the National Game Board.
Bradley Stoke Youth FC (BSYFC) were finalists in two categories: FA Charter Standard Community Club of the Year and, with Matt Smith, for Young Coach of the Year. The club were delighted to be presented on the night as winners of both the categories.
The club award highlights the extensive work the club performs in the local community, including the School Link Program with 14 local schools for Year 1 children, the annual Football Festival for the local schools, which celebrated its tenth anniversary in June, the Enrichment Program with Bradley Stoke Community School (and now the new primary phase), the range of age groups the club covers (from U5 upwards), its dedication to the development of girls’ football, the provision of free disability football sessions and the newly formed ladies’ team.
Matt Smith was declared the winner of his category for his coaching of the U5, U6, U7, U14 girls’ and ladies’ teams, School Link work, Enrichment coaching sessions and the disability football sessions.
The club achieved FA Charter Standard Community status back in May 2010 and have now won the Community Club of the Year Award three times.
They have also won the Young Coach of the Year Award three times and been runners up once. This highlights the strength of their young coach mentoring program that has been running for many years now.
This article originally appeared in the July 2016 edition of the Bradley Stoke Journal news magazine, delivered FREE, EVERY MONTH, to 9,500 homes in Bradley Stoke, Little Stoke and Stoke Lodge. Phone 01454 300 400 to enquire about advertising or leaflet insertion.