NOMINATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED

Staffordshire FA, in conjunction with The Football Association, are once again coordinating the FA Groundsman of the Year Awards for the 2019/20 season, for all clubs/organisations operating at Step 7 and below of the football pyramid.

We’re delighted to announce that this year’s awards will once again be supported by Rigby Taylor – the UK’s leading supplier of products for the improvement, maintenance and construction of sports, amenity and landscape areas. Rigby Taylor’s support with the awards will include the following:

• Top five clubs/organisations shortlisted – will receive a free bag of Rigby Taylor R41 100% Perennial Ryegrass Blend Grass Seed. 
• Top three clubs/organisations – will receive a free Pitch Improvement Programme visit & report from one of the Staffordshire FA Pitch Advisors.
• Award Winner – will receive a free Rigby Taylor line marking machine and line marking paint.

Gareth Thomas, Staffordshire FA, said: “Groundsmen at this level of the game are nearly all volunteers who give up countless hours of their time to provide the best pitches possible with limited resources, equipment and budgets. The Groundsmen of the Year Awards are a great opportunity for these hard-working volunteers be recognised, with the top three Groundsmen in Staffordshire receiving awards at the prestigious County FA Community Awards event in the summer. The Staffordshire winner will also be put forward for national consideration by The Football Association.” 

The deadline to nominate – via the link below – is Monday 17 February 2020.

CLICK HERE TO NOMINATE 

Last year’s winners of this competition were Andy Salt, Trubshaw Cross (first), Chris Burton, Hawkins Sports FC (second), and Steve Mullock, Knutton Community FC (third).

The Staffordshire FA judging panel will visit the clubs/organisations shortlisted on Thursday 12 March 2020. The judging panel will use a set of marking criteria which takes into account each clubs’ resources, equipment, budget, pitch-usage, and the individual challenges faced by each groundsman.  

For further information on the Groundsman of the Year Awards, please contact Gareth Thomas at Staffordshire FA, via gareth.thomas@staffordshirefa.com or on 07815 295723. 

NOTE: Clubs playing at Step 6 and above are not eligible to enter this County FA competition (which is for clubs/organisations at Step 7 and below) but are eligible to enter the Groundsman of the Year competition for their respective level of the National League System – a process which is coordinated by the NLS Leagues in conjunction with The Football Association.