Birmingham County Football Association

This Could Be Your Lucky Coffee Break!
27th September 2001

The Birmingham County Football Association is offering its visitors the chance to win a unique prize when they support their fundraising efforts for Macmillan Cancer Relief tomorrow (Friday, 28th September).

The BCFA are taking part in Macmillan's biggest annual fundraising event - the World's Biggest Coffee Morning, and will have the kettle on between 10am-12noon for anyone who wants to help raise vital funds for the charity.

Visitors to the County FA can also enter a draw to win their own personalised pair of football boots, kindly donated by BalSports. The winner can chose to have their name or maybe their team embroidered on the shoes - a craze made popular by David Beckham who has his son's name emblazoned on his!

BCFA Spokesperson, Antonia Lacey said: "This is a great chance for us to help Macmillan Cancer Relief - with a terrific prize on offer for those who come along."

"It doesn't matter if you are a footie fan or not, we hope that everyone in the local area joins us," added Antonia. "You don't have to talk about football if you don't want to but it"s the perfect opportunity if you do!"

Birmingham County FA are situated on Ray Hall Lane; just off the A4041 Newton Road between Great Barr and West Bromwich.

For further information about the BCFA's coffee morning, call Antonia Lacey on 0121 357 4278.

BCFA Congratulates Charter Standard Successes
17th September 2001

Birmingham County FA will join forces with the FA and Nationwide Building Society in congratulating five clubs at a special presentation evening at County HQ, Birmingham on Wednesday 3rd October (7pm).

Rugby Town JFC, Glebe Farm Colts (Stetchford), Callowbrook Swifts (Rubery), Chetwynd AFC (Nuneaton) and Cottage Farm Rangers (Tamworth) are the first five clubs in the County to gain the FA Charter Standard, with Rugby Town and Glebe Farm Colts also scooping FA Charter Standard Regional Awards for good practice.

The programme, supported by England Team sponsor Nationwide was launched in February 2001, with the aim of setting standards of coaching, administration, development and child protection for football clubs working with young people. It is available free of charge to clubs operating at U16 level and below.

Rugby Town will also collect no less than two West Midlands Regional Charter Standard Awards - winners of the best Development Club and Best Coach in Dave Roche. Glebe Farm Colts and their Secretary Kevin Moss are also to be rewarded with the Best Charter Standard Administrator Award.

Birmingham County FA Chairman, Roger Wood will be joined by various representatives, including the FA National Club Development Manager, Les Howie and Nationwide Building Society Sponsorship Manager, Caroline Rees to present the successful clubs with their Charter Standard Plaques at County HQ.

Les Howie is looking forward to the Presentation Evening:

"The high quality of applications for these awards was amazing," he said. "Everyone should be immensely proud of their hard work, and the fantastic service that they are providing to local children and their community."

Meanwhile, BCFA Spokesperson, Antonia Lacey hopes the event will encourage more clubs to take advantage of the scheme:

"Any award worth having has to involve an element of hard work, so we didn't want the efforts of these first five clubs who have reached the Charter Standard to go without recognition. Lets hope that others are encouraged to follow in their footsteps - and that we have plenty more presentations to make next time."

New Talent - With Familiar Faces
12th September 2001

A new-look Birmingham County FA U18 side will get their first taste of competitive football this Sunday, 16th September when they take on Kidderminster Harriers U18 at Ray Hall Lane, Great Barr.

Major influences in last season's squad are now over the age limit for the team, and have been replaced by fresh talent picked from all over the County FA region by Manager, Martin Sweeney and his Coaching staff.

"We get the chance to work with some of the best players in the area, match them with others who have similar ability and help them develop their game," said Team Spokesman, Steve Poole. "Thanks to the opportunity to play on such a prestigious stage, many move on and sign professional contracts."

Matty Lewis, who scored 9 goals in 8 appearances last season is a prime example of the County system, having signed a 3 year contract with Kidderminster during the summer, whilst Gary White is now a regular in Stoke City's Reserve side.

However, Poole admits that this season's side have a lot to live up to after Birmingham have appeared in the last two FA County Youth Cup Finals - lifting the trophy on the first occasion - whilst winning the Midland Counties Youth Championships twice during the same period:

"We have been very fortunate to have had players available to us who performed so well together," he said. "Our backbone of Elliott Richards in goal, Gareth Picknell and Adam Cooper in defence, Ronnie Sayer and Andrew Morris in midfield and Matty Lewis up front has gone."

There are still some familiar faces - Representatives from North Birmingham College includes a return for Pat Flaherty who made 8 appearances last season. Nuneaton Borough's Chris Woodhall and Marconi (Coventry)'s Matthew O'Rourke has been recalled to the side, along with Paul Marshall who made a terrific impact during his 2 appearances towards the end of the campaign.

"We hope that the continuation in personnel means that the spirit of the team can continue to thrive," said Poole.

To see how the new side perform, spectators can gain free admission to County HQ on Sunday for a 10.30am kick off.

FA Charter Standard National Award for Local Club
11th September 2001

On Wednesday 5th September, the four inaugural National winners of The Football Association's Charter Standard Clubs Awards were presented on the pitch at St. James' Park, Newcastle, prior to the World Cup qualifier against Albania in front of a 52,000 crowd.

The Awards are divided into four categories, and Rugby Town Junior Football Club achieved the unique distinction of winning both the 2001 F.A. Charter Standard Development Club Award, and the 2001 F.A. Charter Standard Coach Award, won by Dave Roche.

Formed in 1994, the clubs original objectives were to promote association football in Rugby, to provide outstanding coaches to all their players, to own their facilities, and to recruit players, allowing them to naturally progress to senior level, without leaving the club.

With the club currently looking at purchasing their own facilities in the not too distant future, the club hope to soon have a home that can house the staggering number of their players on their books.

In 1994, Rugby Town JFC consisted of one team; in the recently started 2001/02 season, the club now have 37 teams from mini-soccer to 11-a-side teams, with a total of almost 600 boys and girls actively taking part.

The emphasis at the club is firmly on fun at a junior level, with an excellent Child Protection policy, and over fifty qualified coaches at the club.

One of those coaches is Dave Roche, who after starting with the club four years ago, has made it his personal mission to oversee the training of nearly sixty coaches at the club, as well as plotting the future development of Rugby Town JFC.

Influences come from far and wide, and Roche is noted at the club for his willingness to adopt different ideas, with the club's coaching library full of books and videos from Europe and South America, whilst closer to home, he has been a frequent visitor to domestic football academies and centres of excellence, in order to pass on his observations to the youth of Rugby.

Future developments for the club revolve around the opening of a Centre of Excellence in conjunction with Rugby College by 2002, whilst the club has already set up a Rugby-based development centre for Premier League neighbours Leicester City.

As well as providing a focal point for hundreds of children in the local community, the club has been keen to foster relationships with local schools in and around Rugby, with the full backing of the Borough Council.

As Brian Crinigan, Secretary of the club explained:

"The F.A. Charter Standard Clubs programme is about best practice, and doing things correctly, which everyone involved with our club is thoroughly committed to doing. These awards send exactly the right messages to both children and parents, that we take the development and the welfare of players seriously, and is tremendous recognition for the dedication and commitment of everyone involved with Rugby Town JFC."

As well as having the opportunity to stand on the same turf graced by England's finest, Rugby Town JFC's representatives at the presentation were also treated to full FA pre and post-match hospitality at it's sponsors village in Newcastle, in addition to match tickets for the vital qualifier.

Les Howie, F.A. National Club Development Manager said:

"The high quality of applications for these awards was amazing and everyone at Rugby Town JFC should be immensely proud of their hard work, and the fantastic service that they are providing to local children and their community."

Rugby Town will be joined by clubs from all over the region who have gained a Charter Standard at a presentation evening on Wednesday 3rd October. Representatives from the FA, BCFA and Nationwide will be handing out Charter Standard plaques along with the West Midlands Regional Charter Standard Awards at County Headquarters, Ray Hall Lane, Great Barr.