Players

get into the game!

Thousands Play Football Every Week

Essential elements of grassroots football are relationships, team spirit and fun, with casual opportunities to enjoy the Beautiful Game and prospects to strive for greatness. That’s why thousands of players take part every week in Essex, and we’re dedicated to increasing and maintaining participation which is safe and enjoyable for all.

Our ‘Squad Booster’ service allows clubs to advertise for new faces online, while our searchable ‘Find a Club’ database lists the clubs nearest to you. We can signpost you to recreational football, too. If 11v11 isn’t for you, there are thriving small-sided, Futsal and Walking Football formats, and adults can ‘Just Play’ with Mars at various locations.

For youngsters, FA Skills provide fun coaching for 5-11s, while there are many local soccer schools, too. We link clubs and schools so youngsters can enjoy the game outside of educational hours. Soccability, meanwhile, ensures players with a disability can still enjoy participating. It’s also crucial to retain existing players, with pathways for talented individuals.

We run male and female representative teams to test Essex’s best against other counties, and girls who show exceptional ability can benefit from our extra guidance. The Benevolent Fund supports those in financial hardship as a result of a football-related injury, while we have several initiatives to ensure behaviour and sportsmanship standards are as high as they can be.