To fully enjoy all the benefits of FA Charter Standard status, accredited Essex grassroots clubs must fully complete their ‘Annual Health Check’, ensuring their people and policies meet the requirements to make them the best possible places to play and enjoy football.

Charter Standard (CS) clubs had a previous deadline in January to make their initial Annual Health Check (AHC) submissions. A second deadline of 31st March is in place to enable them to follow-up on any queries which may have arisen. All CS clubs must have their AHC approved.

For the majority, the policies and documentation evidenced when applying for CS status don’t change, so the process serves as a reminder of which qualifications and Disclosure & Barring Service Checks (DBSs) need updating, progressing or renewing.

On completion of the AHC, clubs receive an exclusive pack of FA benefits, including: a 2018/19 club certificate; new ‘Proud to Be’ promotional digital resources, including an updated logo; access to funded football equipment; ongoing dedicated support from The FA and the Essex County FA.

Clubs must finalise their Annual Health Check by logging into the FA Whole Game System. Further information on grassroots Essex football can also be found on Twitter by following @EssexCountyFA, and by searching for ‘EssexFootball’ on Facebook.

Thanks to the following clubs, who were amongst the first to have their FA Charter Standard Annual Health Checks approved (up to and including 15th February):

Group 1 (Braintree, Colchester, Maldon, Tendring): Alresford Colne Rangers Y, Belle Vue Social Club, Bergholt Heath Y, Boxted Lodgers, Boxted Lodgers Y, Coggeshall Town, Colchester Athletic Y, Colchester D4S, Colchester D4S Youth, Colchester Town Girls, Dedham Old Boys, Earls Colne, Eight Ash Green Y, Essex County FA Girls Regional Talent Club, Feering Falcons Y, Gas Recreation, Gosfield United, Great Bardfield Y, Great Bradfords, Hatfield Peverel, Healthy4Life, Mersea Island, Oyster, Panfield Bell, Reed Hall Sentinels Y, Rowhedge Junior Y, Silver End United Ladies, St Edmunds Y, Stanway Rovers Y, Stanway Villa Y, Steeple Bumpstead, Steeple Bumpstead Dynamos Y, Tiptree Engaine, Tiptree Heath, Tiptree Heath Youth, Tolleshunt Knights Eagles, Valley Green Y, West Bergholt, White Notley, Wormingford Wanderers

Group 2 (Brentwood, Chelmsford, Epping Forest, Harlow, Uttlesford): Abbey Youth, Baddow Spartak Y, Broomfield Y, Chelmsford City, Chelmsford City Ladies, Chingford Athletic, Debden, Dunmow Rhodes Y, Elsenham Youth, Galleywood, Galleywood Y, Great Chesterford Y, Great Danes Y, Great Leighs Y, Herongate Athletic Y, Newhall Rangers Y, Ongar Jubilee, Paringdon Youth, Plantation Y, Saffron Walden Community Y, Saffron Walden Town, Springfield Y, Stansted, Stock United, Stones Athletic Y, Thaxted Rangers Y, United Chelmsford Churches, Uplands Rangers Y, Woodham Radars Y

Group 3 (Basildon, Castle Point, Rochford, Southend-on-Sea, Thurrock): Aveley Academicals, Beech United Y, Belhus Park Athletic, BKS Sports Y, Bowers & Pitsea, Bowers & Pitsea Y, Brandon Groves Y, Brentwood Town Ladies, East Thurrock United Y, Essex Comets Y, Essex Royals Y, FC Deportivo Thurrock, Forest Glade Y, Great Wakering Colts Y, Hawkwell Athletic, Junior Red Star Y, Laindon Orient, Lakeside, Legends, Linford Wanderers, Mossops, Ockendon Manor, Palmers, Rochford Town Sports Boys Y, South Shell United, Southend Manor, Stifford Clays, Stifford Social Club, Stifford United, Thundersley Rovers Y, Trinity Y, Ultimate Colts Y

Group 4 (Barking & Dagenham, Havering, Newham, Redbridge, Waltham Forest): Eastern Avenue Y, Elite Colts Y, Emerson United, Frenford Y, Ilford Town Y, Leytonstone United, May & Baker Eastbrook Community, River Hawks Y, Romford Y, Shield Academy Y, Tigers J, Top Tekkers Y, Walthamstow Y, West Essex