MAKE this February your month to get active and meet new people through the Essex County FA’s online Squad Booster service at www.essexfa.com which aims to pair players or volunteers with grassroots football clubs.
There are hundreds of opportunities to find a local club via the online portal where teams advertise their vacancies, with an additional presence on Twitter using the #SquadBooster hashtag. Clubs all over the county are searching for new faces to bolster their numbers as the season reaches its last few months.
All levels and age groups, male and female, use the popular web pages contain hundreds of classified adverts where clubs are appealing for new faces at training, or for managers, coaches and administrators. Once a form is returned to info@essexfa.com, an entry is created and published in the appropriate category of the online portal.
That team’s local Football Development Officer is also informed and extra Squad Booster adverts can be found using the #SquadBooster hashtag on Twitter. Each month, a digest of all the latest adverts is collated and placed on the County FA’s home page and promoted on Twitter (@EssexCountyFA) and Facebook (EssexFootball).
In addition, the adverts in this digest are sent to 200+ media contacts around the county and publicised with individual tweets and Facebook updates later that month. Squad Booster is also backed by volunteering website Join In, part of the London 2012 Olympic Legacy. Join In encourage more people to get into sport through their own publicity channels (see www.joininuk.org).
Are you a player or volunteer looking for a team? Is your club short of players or volunteers? A form is available on www.essexfa.com so you can advertise your requirements in front of thousands of people who may be able to help. Adverts are also shared on Twitter @EssexCountyFA using the #SquadBooster hashtag, and at ‘EssexFootball’ on Facebook.
Adult Teams
Belhus Park Athletic FC: We’re an FA Charter Standard club looking for a goalkeeper for our Thurrock Sunday League squad. We play at Lakeside in Thurrock. Please call David Barley on (01375) 381282 or E-Mail dave.barley@yahoo.co.uk.
Youth Teams
Stones Athletic YFC: We’re an FA Charter Standard club and we require players of all abilities to join our proposed Blackwater & Dengie Youth League teams for next season’s Under 7s age group (school year two as of September 2017). If you would like to come and join a fun and friendly side then we want to hear from you. Training is on Saturday mornings from 10:00-11:00am at Seymour Fields, Ingatestone, CM4 0HH. All our coaches are FA-accredited and CRB-checked and we follow the safeguarding and Respect programmes as set out by The FA. Please call Luke Evans on (07508) 463919 or E-Mail luke9779@hotmail.com.
Hutton Girls FC: We are now actively recruiting school year two, three and four girls. Everyone is welcome, experienced or not. The aim is to form an Under 9s side to play some friendlies this season, and potentially enter a league the following year. Your daughter can just train, and play if or when they want to. We’ve had considerable success over the past few years, but we’re not pushy. Enjoyment of the game will always come first. Training is every Saturday morning on the grass at Shenfield School, 10:15-11:45am. Just turn-up and ask for Rob, Mick, Paul, Reece or Evie. But please make sure your daughter is wearing appropriate footwear, and shin pads are a must. For more details, E-Mail girlssecretary@huttonfc.com.
Hannakins Farm FC/Queens Park (Hannakins) FC: We have one, possibly two vacancies for full teams to come and join our club for next season. Excellent facilities and access to an Astroturf pitch (private hire from our landlords). The league the teams will play in is yet to be discussed, but training will be on Sunday mornings at 10:30am. Any interested parties should contact Dianne Haigh for further details via (01268) 287486 or sec.hffc@gmail.com.
Hedinghams United Under 11s Girls: We’re an FA Charter Standard club looking for girls in school years four or five to join our new team for 2017/18. If you’re interested, please call Steve Parsons on (07449) 753692 or E-Mail stephenparsons.sp@gmail.com.
Corringham Cosmos Under 13s: We’re an FA Charter Standard club looking for more players in various positions in school year eight as we move on to play 11v11 football in the Southend & District Junior League. Training is on Saturday mornings and Wednesday evenings (on 3G in winter). Matches are on Sundays at Gable Hall school. All training is run by FA-trained, qualified coaches with up-to-date CRCs. All players are encouraged to express themselves by playing attractive, passing football. Please call Don French on (07714) 333632 or E-Mail secretary@corringhamcosmos.com.
Silver End Under 13s: We’re an FA Charter Standard club looking for two or more players for our team for the 2017/18 season in the Blackwater & Dengie Youth League. Training is on Saturdays, with Sunday matches. Please call Dave Razzell on (07736) 586535 or E-Mail davidrazzell@hotmail.com.
Stanway Rovers Under 10s: We’re an FA Charter Standard club looking for a goalkeeper for our Colchester & District Youth League squad. Training is on Saturday mornings, with matches on Sundays. We’re making preparations for 9v9 next season. We are a well-established team who are committed to player development and progression in a fun atmosphere. Please call Ian Foster on (07516) 456750 or E-Mail buff.foster@btinternet.com.
Tigers Under 12s Girls: We’re an FA Charter Standard club and our Essex County Girls’ League squad needs eight more players. Training is on Saturday mornings, with Sunday matches. Please call Shane Windess on (07702) 036109 or E-Mail s.windess3@hotmail.co.uk.
Essex Minors (Hornchurch) Under 7s (Eagles): Based in the Hornchurch/Rainham area, our FA Charter Standard club are looking for more players to add to our existing squads. Established in 1968, all our qualified coaches hold FA, Safeguarding and First Aid certificates. Training is on Wednesdays and Saturdays at Bretons Outdoor Recreation Centre, Rainham Road, Rainham, RM13 7LP and our Echo Junior League games are on Sundays. For more details, E-Mail emhfcyouth@gmx.co.uk or call Lee on (07891) 328899.
Leigh Ramblers Under 11s (Blues): We’re an FA Charter Standard club looking for one, possibly two, new players for our Southend & District Junior League squad. We train and play in a positive environment which helps players develop technical and decision-making skills as well as giving players the opportunity to play in various positions. We include Futsal training/competitions as an integral part of the team’s development. Although we have been a successful team for the past few seasons, we prioritise enjoyment and full participation ahead of a ‘win at all costs’ mentality and base our footballing philosophy on passing, possession and playing attractive football. If your child has had enough of being shouted at on a football pitch and wants to play at a good standard (we are a top division team), with a fully supportive group of coaches and parents, then this is the team to join. Training is on Saturday mornings, with matches on Sundays. Please contact Stuart Meyrick via (07412) 755554 or stuart_meyrick@yahoo.com. Alternatively, try Matt Searle on (07590) 404205 or at matthew.searle388@gmail.com.
Springfield Under 15s: We’re an FA Charter Standard club looking for a goalkeeper for our Chelmsford Youth League Division One team. Training is on Tuesday evenings on the 3G pitch at Moulsham School from 8:00-9:00pm. Matchdays are Sundays. Please call Gary Simms on (07957) 765891 or E-Mail garys.bellwayhomes@gmail.com.
Leigh Rockets Under 11s: We’re an FA Charter Standard club looking for a player to join our Southend & District Junior League squad. Training is on Saturday mornings, with matches on Sundays. Please call Dean Waites on (07990) 773190 or E-Mail dean.waites@gmail.com.
Chelmsford City YFC: We are currently looking for additional players in the Under 12s, 14s and 17s age groups. If you are interested, please E-Mail info@ccyfc.com or call: Under 12s – Gary Kay (07982) 818584, Under 14s – Jim Palmer (07920) 194595, Under 17s – Stacey Ellis (07725) 112374.
Essex Comets Under 7s: We’re an FA Charter Standard club looking for a goalkeeper for our Thundermite Youth League squad. We train on Saturdays, with matches on Sundays, and we have links to West Ham United FC. Please call Billy Porter on (07706) 585024 or E-Mail billy_porter2003@msn.com.
Essex Minors (Hornchurch) Under 10s (Eagles): We are an FA Charter Standard club looking for players (in year five at school) in all positions to strengthen and improve on our current Echo Junior League squad. We are a friendly and welcoming club focused on the development of our players. We train on Saturday mornings from 9:30-11:00am at Bretons Outdoor Recreation Centre in Rainham Road, Rainham, RM13 7LP. If you’re interested, and want to come to an open training session, please call or text Dan Farrant on (07539) 349847 or E-Mail daniel.farrant82@gmail.com.
Upminster Park Rovers Under 17s: We’re an FA Charter Standard club seeking two strong and versatile outfield players to join our positive, friendly Chelmsford Youth League Division Two squad. Training is on Tuesdays (floodlit) and matches are on Sundays in Upminster. Our coaches are FA-qualified and CRC-checked. Please call Stuart Costin on (07811) 963425 or E-Mail stuart.costin@btinternet.com.
Nazeing Youth FC: We are a small, family-orientated club and we’re trying to grow the number of players in the club with three new faces for each of our Under 7s, 8s and 10s age groups. I (Paul Bray) am currently doing my FA Level 2 coaching course and I coach the Under 7s and 8s. Training is on Wednesdays from 5:00-6:00pm at Broxbourne, with Mid Herts Rural Minors League games on Saturdays at Bumbles Green, Nazeing. Please call Paul Bray on (07805) 324127 or E-Mail secretary@nazeingyouthfc.co.uk.
East Thurrock United Under 13s: We are forming an Eastern Junior Alliance (EJA) squad for 2017/18. We are looking for players in current school year seven to complement our existing squad. You will be joining an ambitious club as the adult First Team plays in the Vanarama National League South. EJA and cup matches, plus training, will be held at Lakeside Sports Ground, Arterial Road (A1306), West Thurrock, RM16 6DN. If you’re interested in this exciting opportunity, please call John Morris on (07759) 393004 or E-Mail morro24@talk21.com.
Volunteers
Essex Minors (Hornchurch) Under 7s: We’re an FA Charter Standard club with a coach in place currently running three Under 7s teams, so we are looking for a coach to help with these well organised and well run teams. You’d need an FA Level 1 qualification or above, although we’ll pay for your qualification if required. Training is on Wednesdays and Saturdays in Rainham, with Echo Junior League matches on Sundays in Bretons Outdoor Centre. Please call Lee Chilvers on (07891) 328899 or E-Mail lee.emhfc@hotmail.co.uk.
Echo Junior League: We are looking for volunteers for Divisional Officers and for girls football. Please get in touch with Iris Fraser via E-Mail at irisfraserecholeague@hotmail.com.
