The registration window is now open for One-Star England Football Accredited clubs to attend the Essex County FA’s first ever Thriving Community Club Conference, offering an exciting opportunity for clubs looking to develop their football provision.
Registration opened recently, with the conference set to take place on Saturday 30th May at New Hall School in Boreham, Chelmsford. The event will bring together clubs from across the county – including Two and Three-Star Clubs – and there will already be an attendance of over 70. With limited seats available, clubs are advised to register at the earliest opportunity to ensure they’re represented, and so they can connect, collaborate and share best practice.
This innovative conference will provide a dynamic platform for grassroots clubs to engage with leading voices from across the game, explore innovative ideas and gain practical support to help them grow, both on and off the pitch. The event will feature an outstanding line-up of guest speakers and contributors from across the football landscape.
Hosted by talkSPORT and BBC Sport presenter, Charlotte Richardson, the day will include insight from high-profile figures such as Kate Longhurst, Freya Godfrey, Lyndon Lynch, Bebe Jackson, Pete Sturgess and Tom Sibthorpe, each bringing unique expertise across different areas of the game.
Through a mixture of presentations, question and answer sessions and practical demonstrations, attendees will gain valuable knowledge to support their club’s long-term development. The event will focus on several key themes which are central to the future of grassroots football:
Growing Female Participation: increasing visibility and opportunities for women and girls
Creating Inclusive Environments: strengthening disability provision and accessibility
Developing Coaching Behaviours: delivering positive, player-centred experiences through ‘FutureFit’ approaches
Youth Engagement: supporting structured participation and volunteering pathways, including FA initiatives and the Jack Petchey Foundation
National League System Club Support: covering fan engagement, marketing, facility funding and operational best practice
Social Value Impact: helping clubs to demonstrate their community value, build partnerships and maximise local impact
These sessions underline the Essex County FA’s commitment to supporting clubs across every aspect of their journey – from participation and coaching to facilities and community engagement. In addition to the learning programme, clubs will have access to a dedicated marketplace area, offering the chance to connect with football industry organisations, suppliers and partners.
This includes providers of facility development advice, equipment suppliers, pitch maintenance consultants, charity partners and the Essex County FA’s own Youth Forum. The collaborative environment will enable clubs to gather valuable contacts and discover new opportunities to enhance their offer.
The Thriving Community Club Conference represents a significant step forward in the Essex County FA’s ongoing work to support sustainable, forward-thinking clubs aligned with the #MovingForward Strategy 2028 vision of: “Creating a united #EssexFootball environment that tackles inequalities, delivers inspirational football opportunities and improves health For All.”
The conference aims to support clubs in their development journey by providing access to expert insight and practical learning experiences. “We are pleased to confirm we have secured an excellent panel of experts and personalities from across the England Football landscape to support our conference,” said Essex County FA Club and Community Officer, Jason Levy.
He continued: “This panel brings a wealth of experience and insight and they’ll be delivering a series of presentations, question and answer sessions and in-game demonstrations across Thriving Community Club themes, providing guidance and expertise to offer a valuable and enjoyable learning opportunity for all attendees.”
Get involved! Places are currently available to England Football One-Star Accredited and FA National League System clubs. To find out more, visit www.essexfa.com or, to express your interest in attending, please contact Jason Levy via [email protected] or Danny Adderson via [email protected].
