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Northamptonshire FA Newsletter

Northamptonshire FA Newsletters

Our newsletter gives you the latest news from grassroots football across Northamptonshire - it details everything from upcoming events and initiatives, playing opportunities, coaching courses, refereeing development and support, and much more!

You can read the latest edition of our newsletter below and read previous editions by clicking the buttons in the box on the right of this page.

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February 2nd 2023

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NORTHANTS FA NEWSLETTER - 24TH FEBRUARY 2023

Welcome to the latest instalment of Northants Football News in what is shaping up to be a hectic and exciting period for all clubs across the County.

I am delighted to announce that with preparations already well underway for the 2023/24 season, Club Affiliation will be FREE for all Clubs from next season onwards. In addition, Team Affiliation fees will once more be frozen at current levels as we recognise the tight financial grip on the grassroots game.

As an Association we have worked tirelessly to ensure that football is accessible to all, whilst at the same time maintaining and improving our levels of service to everyone involved in the game locally. Your continued support and cooperation is absolutely invaluable and the staff and I will continue to listen to what is important to you in shaping a bright future for football in Northamptonshire.

Further changes to the governance of the game at County level are progressing well in line with FA guidance, and safeguarding is as robust as it ever has been; ensuring the safety of all participants. We continue to break new ground with our youth engagement activities and are pleased to confirm that our FA targets for the 2022/23 season around player numbers have already been met.

Finally, I would like to remind all Clubs of the importance of preparation in advance of the impending changes to affiliation around mandatory safeguarding qualifications. We appreciate that this can be an onerous task for already busy volunteers, but if it keeps everyone involved in the game safe, then it is a measure worth taking.

I very much hope that the news below is informative and useful, and would like to take this opportunity to wish all Clubs the very best for the remainder of this season.

Christian Smith
Northamptonshire CEO

In this edition of the newsletter, you will find:

GRASSROOTS FORUM WITH SPECIAL GUESTS TO BE HELD AT SIXFIELDS

Northampton Town Football Club have launched an initiative to work closer with Northamptonshire grassroots football club and are looking to host regular meetings where they can explore how they can offer support to your club.

This could range from helping to recruit players, to providing coaches with free health checks, as well as advice on how to overcome the challenges you face on a day-to-day basis.

The first forum will be held in the Carrs Bar at Sixfields Stadium on Wednesday 22nd March (7pm arrival for a 7:30pm start).

As well as staff from the club's Community Trust, academy and media team, first team manager Jon Brady will also be in attendance to share his football journey and managerial experiences with attendees.

If you would like to attend, please contact Jason.Adams@ntfc.co.uk confirming which club you will be representing and the number of people you are bringing.

LOOKING BACK ON YOUTH ENGAGEMENT MONTH

February has been dedicated our Youth Engagement month.

As part of this, we went out into the community to talk with young players to find out what young people liked and disliked about football in Northamptonshire.

You can find out what they said here.

We also spent time chatting to players from Santos U12s, Corby U12 Lionesses and ON Chenecks U14s as they progressed in County Cup competitions.

Head to Falcon Frankie's YouTube channel to watch now, and don't forget to subscribe!

Since our last newsletter, our mascot Falcon Frankie has also been busy gathering the latest news from youth football across Northamptonshire.

Check out his articles below!

FACILITIES THE FOCUS FOR MARCH

As we enter the Spring, our first monthly theme is Facilities.

To celebrate this, we're holding a Grass Improvement Workshop on Tuesday 28th March (6-9pm) at Wellingborough Old Grammarians Sports Ground.

The event has been designed with two groups of club volunteers in mind:
  • Volunteer groundskeepers who are responsible for maintaining grass pitches, machinery, seed and fertilisers etc.
  • Those responsible within the club for the administration of the GPMF grant - getting best value for money from your grant and specific practical help on claiming your grant, and support with years 3-6 of the programme. 
We've got a great panel of speakers lined up for the event including Julien Morris, Senior Regional Pitch Advisor from the Grounds Management Association, Mark Pettit, Director at Premiership Lawncare & GrassGains, and Robert Jack & Roger Moore from Dennis/SISIS.

There will also be equipment demonstrations from Oxyshot and Quadraplay to ensure you're using the equipment to its full capabilities.

Hot food and refreshments will be provided on then night, with each club able to bring up to two people to the event.
 

RECREATIONAL AND DISABILITY FOOTBALL OPPORTUNITIES

There are loads of inclusive football sessions offered across Northamptonshire to ensure everyone in our community has a place to play football.

Take a look at some of the opportunities below and make sure you get in touch to find out more.

NORTHAMPTONSHIRE FA
Contact Keegan Barstow on Keegan.Barstow@NorthamptonshireFA.com or 01604670741 to find out more.

NORTHAMPTONSHIRE TOWN FC COMMUNITY TRUST
Contact Russell Lewis on R.Lewis@ntfc.co.uk or 07887878182 to find out more

FEMALE FOOTBALL OPPORTUNITIES

As part of our mission to grow female football across our county, we are running a series of female football sessions.

Look below to see what's on offer!

UPCOMING COACHING CPD - MANAGING BEHAVIOURS

When: Friday 10th March (7pm-9pm)

Where: West St, Moulton, Northampton NN3 7RR

Join Coach Developers Andy Poole and Quintin Allen as they share the best techniques and methods in managing behaviour across all areas of the game in this workshop which mixes both theory and practical elements.

They will explain the best approaches to getting your parents involved throughout the season. They will also show examples of challenges and tasks that will help manage behaviour that can cause disruption to training sessions or matchday morale.

We also invite attendees to ask any questions about challenging scenarios they've faced.

Rosie (Northants FA's Designated Safeguarding Officer) will also be in attendance to answer any questions you may have around this topic from a safeguarding perspective.