Woodley Saints achieve FA Community Status!
Following a lot of hard work preparing our submission, I am very proud to say that the FA has just awarded Woodley Saints FC the 'FA Charter Community Club' status. This is a great honour for the club as it is the highest award we can receive from the FA. We are now one of a very small number of clubs to hold this in the area.
What does it mean to us?
As well as recognising the efforts and successes of the club so far (for example in growing the Development Centre for 5 and 6 year olds, ladies / girls teams and obtaining valuable training for the managers, coaches and other volunteers), the award commits us to building for the future of the game. For example, we need to consider plans for further inclusion of disabled or disadvantaged groups and develop how we work with schools and other community groups.
Holding FA Community Club status is prestigious and should help to set us apart from other clubs when people are looking for a club to join.
Whilst it does not guarantee funding, the award usually helps to smooth the path when applying for grants. Our Community status application was closely linked to our request for funding the artificial pitches at Berkshire Sports. We are asking for over half a million pounds from the Football Foundation and would hope that this award helps us to scale our largest barrier. All being well, with funding secured, we will start work in September 2008 and work will be completed by early 2009.
I consider this achievement a great milestone in the history of the club and would like to thank everyone that has helped us to achieve this.
Further information on Community Clubs can be found on the FA website at: