NORTHANTS FA SHORTLISTED FOR THE COUNTY FA RECOGNITION AWARDs 2024

Northants Football Association [FA] has been successfully shortlisted in two categories at the County FA Recognition Awards 2024 for its Create the Feeling Campaign and Staff Wellbeing Programme.

The Awards, the winners of which will be announced at Wembley Stadium connected by EE on Thursday 7 November 2024, recognise and endorse the best projects, products and services delivered by County FAs over the past season while sharing best practice and learnings from around the country.

Over 225 nominations have been entered from the 50 County FAs operating across England, highlighting exceptional delivery and showcasing how they are innovating to improve grassroots football and increase participation across all levels of the game. 


The twelve categories which will be recognised at the awards are: 

• Brand Engagement
• Coach Development
• Employee Wellbeing & Engagement
• Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
• Facility Development
• Football Development
• Partnership
• Positive Football Environment
• Referee Development
• Special recognition
• Women & Girls
• Youth Engagement

Northants FA has made the final shortlist for the Brand Engagement award for its Create the Feeling Campaign. This initiative was born from a recognition within the organisation that its digital platforms lacked sufficient localised imagery, which created a disconnect with the community it serves. Understanding the importance of resonating with its footballing community, the Northants FA developed a strategy aimed at bridging this gap. The campaign looked to connect the football community with the Northants Football brand. A key focus was to enhance the representation of the individuals who make up this vibrant community by increasing the availability and visibility of local game footage and photographs across the organisation's platforms. This effort was not just about showcasing the game but also about celebrating the shared passion and feeling that unites players, supporters, volunteers, and the Northants FA staff. The launch of this campaign coincided with the introduction of Northants FA’s new four-year strategy, where the overarching goal was to inspire greater engagement with Northants Football activities. By highlighting the common interests and emotions shared by all involved, the campaign aimed to "Create the positive feeling" that comes from being part of the footballing world. Through this strategic focus, Northants FA hopes to strengthen its community ties and ensure that its platforms genuinely reflect the people and passion of local football.

Northants FA has also made the final shortlist for the Employee Wellbeing and Engagement award for its Staff Wellbeing Programme. The Staff Monthly Well-Being Programme at Northants FA is designed to promote a healthy work-life balance and enhance overall staff morale. The program aims to create a supportive and positive work environment through a range of initiatives, including mental health support, team building, and monthly tokens of appreciation. By prioritising the health and happiness of its staff, Northants FA demonstrates its commitment to creating a thriving workplace with a healthy work-life balance, increasing productivity for the entire football community

Northants FA's CEO, Kirsty Clarke said: "It is an absolute honour to be shortlisted as Finalists for these two awards, particularly as they mean so much to whole team at Northants FA. We recognised the need to improve the ways we connected locally through our 24-28 strategy consultation period. By using local imagery and encouraging people to share those unique feelings that only football can offer we have enabled this greater resonance with our stakeholders.

The FA’s Head of Operations for Grassroots Football, Tim Foster added: 

“I’d like to congratulate Northants FA in making the final shortlist for the Brand Engagement and Employee Wellbeing & Engagement awards. We’ve had some outstanding submissions this year, once again highlighting the crucial role County FAs play in their local communities, ensuring accessible opportunities across all football formats and creating a fun and safe environment for all.

“We look forward to celebrating the achievements of our County FAs at Wembley Stadium in November and thanking everyone involved for their efforts across the season.” 

For more information on the work of County FAs, visit: https://www.englandfootball.com/explore/county-football-associations