We all know at least one household for whom football is a constant in their lives. Now you can nominate your favourite local ‘Football Family’ for the latest #CelebrateEssex category on Twitter and potentially see them highlighted as the heartbeat of the county!

The monthly recognition shines a light on some of local football’s unsung heroes. It showcases personal stories from Essex legends, increasing their visibility as role models to engage new members and inspiring newcomers to join the grassroots community as volunteers. Nominations are required via the @EssexCountyFA account by Tuesday 8th December.

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

December is the month of the ‘Football Family’ category. Football history features many high-profile collectives who have shared a common interest in the beautiful game. But there are also a number of more local families who keep grassroots football going, including mothers, fathers, sons and daughters, for whom football is unavoidable in their households!

This category has been specifically chosen to take place in December to coincide with International Volunteer Day on Saturday 5th December. Future months will feature these further categories: January: Media Manager, February: Coach (Youth and Adult), March: Footie Mum, April: Treasurer, May: Secretary, June: Chairperson.

Last year’s winners were The Davidsons of Frinton & Walton YFC, who reacted: “As a family, we love football! It’s given us so much. We have made life-long friends. It keeps us busy and we get a huge amount of enjoyment, whether it’s playing, watching or officiating, we can all celebrate each other’s achievements together.”

Stage One: Make Your Nomination on Twitter

If you know a Football Family who you think should receive some special thanks, anyone can make a nomination by tweeting (by 8th December):

“I nominate [Insert Name or Twitter Username] from [Insert Club/Team or Twitter Username] as @EssexCountyFA #CelebrateEssex Football Family 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 Twitter poll/vote...

Stage Three: Let Voting Commence!

A Twitter poll/vote will be available at @EssexCountyFA 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 winner of the poll will be contacted to be that month’s ‘Volunteer of the Month’!

Follow the #CelebrateEssex hashtag on Twitter 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 and search for ‘EssexFootball’ on Facebook.

#CelebrateEssex Terms and Conditions

* previous category winners are ineligible for 2020/21 nomination
* irregular voting patterns could result in the suspension of a category

Celebrating International Volunteer Day in Essex
Worldwide Occasion on 5th December

International Volunteer Day (IVD) is a global celebration of volunteers. It takes place every year on 5th December to shine a light on the impact of volunteer efforts everywhere.

Volunteers are leading social change around the world. This special day promotes the work of volunteers at all levels, including local, national and international. United Nations Volunteers founded International Volunteer Day in 1985. For more information, please visit the United Nations Volunteers website via this link.