THE Essex County FA’s first-ever ‘Thriving Community Club Conference’ proved to be a huge success on Saturday 30th May, as clubs, partners and football leaders from across the county came together at New Hall School in Chelmsford for a day focused on connection, collaboration and development.
Designed to support the growth of sustainable and forward-thinking grassroots clubs, the conference welcomed representatives from England Football Accredited and National League System clubs, plus community organisations, for a programme packed with expert insight, practical learning and networking opportunities.
The event featured an impressive line-up of speakers and contributors from across the football and sporting landscape, including Charlotte Richardson, Kate Longhurst, Isabella Fisher, Bebe Jackson, Lyndon Lynch, Pete Sturgess, Tom Sibthorpe and Steve Mitchell, alongside a range of grassroots clubs and community organisations who shared their own experiences and best practice.
Attendees took part in a series of presentations, panel discussions and workshops, exploring key themes central to the future of grassroots football. Sessions focused on growing female participation, creating inclusive environments, workforce development, coach development and the forthcoming FutureFit changes, as well as the wider local social value football delivers.
Essex County FA Chief Executive Officer, Brendan Walshe, opened the conference, thanking attendees for their ongoing commitment to the game and highlighting the vital and inspirational role clubs play across the county. “Our clubs are the heartbeat of the football ecosystem in Essex – providing engagement and inclusion for people of all ages and backgrounds to play, coach, volunteer, referee and connect within their communities,” he explained, reflecting on the event.
“This day was about bringing that network of clubs, individuals and leaders together to share, connect and collaborate on key themes in football, and to recognise and showcase the positive contribution to wider social value that football makes in local communities. We were delighted to have the support of so many brilliant panel speakers and contributors on the day to help highlight the opportunities and potential for the future to keep clubs and Essex football thriving.”
One of the standout themes was the importance of creating welcoming and accessible football environments. The ‘Journey to Inclusion’ session brought together voices from disability football and inclusive sport, including Paralympian Bebe Jackson, grassroots coach Lyndon Lynch, Sport for Confidence’s Jess Clark and representatives from Tigers JFC’s FA Comets programme.
The growth of the women’s and girls’ game was also emphasised through an ‘Equal Game’ session, with former Barclays Women’s Super League champion Kate Longhurst, England youth international Isabella Fisher and Kellie Wright from Brentwood Youth AFC sharing their experiences and discussing ways which clubs can continue to develop opportunities for female players.
Elsewhere, delegates gained valuable insight into workforce development, volunteer recruitment and retention, as well as practical coach development opportunities. Sessions led by Pete Sturgess and Tom Sibthorpe provided guidance around player-centred coaching approaches and the introduction of FutureFit, helping clubs to prepare for the next stage of grassroots football development.
Alongside the conference programme, attendees had the opportunity to visit a dedicated ‘marketplace’ area, featuring football suppliers, facility development partners, community organisations and Essex County FA support teams, creating valuable opportunities for networking and collaboration.
Essex County FA Club and Community Officer, Jason Levy, was also delighted with the success of the inaugural event. He said: “It was fantastic to see so many clubs and partners come together for our first Thriving Community Club Conference. The level of interaction throughout the day demonstrated the passion which exists within Essex grassroots football and the collective desire to continue developing inclusive, sustainable and forward-thinking clubs.”
“We’d like to thank all of our speakers, exhibitors, partners and attendees for helping to make the event such a success. The conversations, ideas and connections created throughout the day will help clubs to continue to thrive within their communities, and we look forward to building on this event in the future.”
The conference formed part of the Essex County FA’s ongoing commitment to delivering the #MovingForward Strategy 2028, creating a united #EssexFootball environment that tackles inequalities, delivers inspirational football opportunities and improves health For All. You can find out more atwww.essexfa.com, or by following the Essex County FA on social media.
