Who deserves our Respect this year?
The FA is delighted to announce the sixth year of the Respect and Fair Play Awards where we try – at levels of football – to recognise the individuals, clubs and leagues that are keeping our great game beautiful.
What do we want to recognise?
Leagues, Clubs, County FAs or individuals that are providing safe, fair and enjoyable opportunities for people to play. This might be achieved through the following approaches;
Educating teams, coaches, spectators or players
Encouraging players, coaches, spectators or teams to strive for high standards of behaviour
Dealing with poor behaviour , Incentivising good behaviour
Recruiting, retaining and valuing referees
Improving a situation of established poor behaviour
Captain’s who work well with Referees to help manage on pitch behaviour
Referee’s who gain Respect for the way in which they mange games
Campaigning in an effective and persuasive way
The work of individuals that have improved the environment in which the game takes place
A spontaneous act of Fair Play or kindness that demonstrates Respect in the game
How can nominations be made?
This year all applications need to be submitted electronically online. The application process is the same for clubs, leagues and individuals. The closing date for online applications is 4 May 2015
Who can nominate?
Self nominations, nominations by a friend or relative or by a third party are all acceptable. The FA will seek references or endorsements for nominations which are under consideration for awards from the relevant club, league, Football Association.
What are the Rewards?
Depending on the category the rewards differ - in some cases winners will receive the offer a celebrity football speaker at their football function, the visit of the FA Cup, a coaching bursary of £1500 or tickets and hospitality at a England home fixture at Wembley. Cash prizes are available in all categories as is the use of an exclusive Respect Awards identity.
All winners will be invited to attend an awards ceremony and lunch which is hosted prior to the staging of the FA Community Shield in August 2015.
What sort of people, leagues and clubs win these awards?
People that are just like you! They face the same problems and challenges. Here’s a rundown of last year’s winners;
In the Premier League and Football League Championship Liverpool and Burnley demonstrated the possibility of playing exhilarating but disciplined football. Walsall and Exeter were deserved winners of the Fair Play Awards in FL1 & 2. In The National League System, The Northern Premier League (NPL) won the award for the third time in four years fighting off strong competition from the Football Conference. Skelmersdale United from NPL took the club award with an effort that has transformed their disciplinary record and reputation. The Kent County Football League distinguished themselves from many other excellent entrants by an approach which focuses on supporting clubs through difficult times rather than simply reverting to fines. At a Grassroots Level The Grantham Football League attracted the attention of the judges through their relaunch of the Respect programme to their clubs and their commitment to educate all parents on the support they should offer to their children. The East Lancashire Football Alliance has worked with the Lancashire CFA to deliver an adults in children’s football course in club environments. The production of promotional films and an integrated approach across all of the activities of Derbyshire CFA won the East Midlanders the County FA award ahead of strong competition from Leicestershire, Kent, Surrey and Somerset. Longfleet Youth Football Club from Dorset were the Grassroots Club winner for an impressively comprehensive approach to instilling Respect into the culture of a Charter Standard Club whereas Layton Juniors Football Club from Blackpool received recognition for doing the same with few resources to support them other than the energy and commitment of volunteers. A Women and Girls Award went to the Herefordshire Girls League who provide an friendly and inspiring environment to play the game. A ‘People’s Award ‘was introduced this year to recognise a spontaneous act of Respect or Fair Play – the Judges opted for two inspirational winners; The generosity of AFC Bournemouth supporters who raised money to pay for the coaches of Burton Albion fans to attend a rearranged FA Cup fixture and the courage of a club Welfare Officer Jackie Smith who stood to a gang of thugs that had invaded and stopped a youth fixture intent on trouble. The prestigious ‘Bobby Moore’ Individual Award went to Peter Malady from Hertfordshire who put himself forward to transform the culture and atmosphere of a club by a combination of education and a willingness to confront those that did not share this vision.
What are the Award Categories?
Professional Game – We will recognise the Fair Play Award Winners in the Premier League and Football League. An Award will also be made to the Premier League club considered to have the most sporting fans.
Leagues –We will recognise at a county, regional and national level in the following areas of the game: National League System, Women’s Pyramid of Football, Grassroots Adult League, Grassroots Youth League (details below)
Clubs – we will recognise clubs at all levels; National League System Club, Women’s Pyramid, Grassroots Club
Individuals – The Bobby Moore Award is available to anyone in Football that by their conduct throughout their involvement in football has provided an example of the way in which the game should be played, officiated or administered.
County FA – The County FA considered to have done the most to promote Respect in the last three seasons.
People’s Award – We will recognise an individual, team, club or league involved in a spontaneous act of Respect displayed this or last season.
Award Deadlines & Dates
|
2nd March 2015 |
Online application opens |
|
4 May 2015 |
Deadline for online applications |
|
August 2015 |
Award Ceremony hosted at the FA Community Shield |
National Award Categories and Prizes
|
Category |
Criteria |
|
Professional Game Fair Play Awards |
Use of the Fair Play marks provided by Match Assessors for Premier League and Football League fixtures |
|
National League System League and FA Women’s Super League |
£ 4,000 |
|
National League System League( Steps 5 -7 ) and FA Women’s Premier League |
£ 3,000 |
|
National League System Club - (Steps 1 -4) |
£ 3,000 |
|
National League System Club - (Steps 5 -7) |
£2,000 |
|
Grassroots League and FA Women’s Regional Leagues (up to 2 winners) |
£2,000 |
|
Grassroots Club |
£2,000 |
|
County FA Award |
£1,000 |
|
Respect Peoples Award |
£1,000 |
|
Respect Individual Award |
£1,000 |
For more infomation, please click on http://www.thefa.com/my-football/more/respect/respect-awards?utm_campaign=831589&utm_content=612725620&utm_medium=email&utm_source=SmartFocus