Nominations are being collected for the latest categories of our #CelebrateEssex Twitter/X competition until Thursday 27th June, with ‘Treasurers’ and ‘Chairpersons’ being highlighted this month.

#CelebrateEssex shines a light on the crucial volunteers whose unpaid efforts make the local grassroots game tick. Secretary and Chairperson nominations can be made via the @EssexCountyFA account to showcase personal stories from local personalities, increasing their visibility as role models and encouraging new faces to come forward. Once all the nominations have been collated, a final voting stage will then identify the latest winners.

Secretaries and Chairpersons are being recognised in June. The secretary is one of the most important roles in a club or league, and is the main point of contact with a County FA, team managers and other clubs or leagues. The secretary will look after the administrative duties and make vital off-pitch arrangements which help players to enjoy games on the field.

A chairperson oversees the running of a club or league, ensuring it is operating efficiently and is managed appropriately. They head-up meetings and provide leadership in all areas, such as tournaments etc. At the heart of a well-run club is an organised and passionate chairperson. Last year’s ‘Secretary’ winner was Dave Lovell from Basildon Town FC, while White Ensign FC’s Alan Day claimed the ‘Chairperson’ award.

Volunteers are the lifeblood of grassroots football, putting in countless hours of their time so others can enjoy playing the game. Football needs more of these true heroes, but it also needs to retain and recognise those already involved. Through this regular Twitter/X activity, #CelebrateEssex aims to do just that, promoting ten different roles throughout the year.

Stage One: Make Your Nominations on Twitter/X

If you know a ‘Secretary’ and/or ‘Chairperson’ who you think should receive some special thanks, anyone can make a nomination by tweeting (by 27th June):

“I nominate [Insert Name and/or Twitter/X Username] from [Insert Club/Team or Twitter/X Username] as @EssexCountyFA #CelebrateEssex [Secretary/Chairperson] because…”

State why your nominee should be the winner and be as descriptive as you can in 280 characters! It’s important to use the #CelebrateEssex hashtag to ensure your entry is registered.

Stage Two: Nominations Reviewed

Once the window closes, all the nominations received will be collated and a panel will decide which individuals will be progressed to the final polls/votes.

Stage Three: Let Voting Commence!

Polls/votes will be available on this web page for seven days, featuring profiles of the nominees so voters can make an informed decision on who to vote for.

Stage Four: And Our Winner Is…

The winners of the polls will be contacted to be that month’s ‘Volunteers of the Month’!

Follow the #CelebrateEssex hashtag on Twitter/X to keep track of the nominations! To find out more about volunteering in grassroots Essex football, browse the 'Volunteers' menu above, follow @EssexCountyFA on Twitter/X and search for ‘EssexFootball’ on Facebook.

#CelebrateEssex Terms and Conditions

* previous category winners are ineligible for 2023/24 voting
* irregular voting patterns could result in the suspension of a category
* The voting system’s interpretation of the vote winner, as viewed by @EssexCountyFA, is final