Exeter hits the Standard

The Exeter and District Youth League is the latest league in Devon to be celebrating after being awarded the prestigious Charter Standard Award.

The relatively new concept of Charter Standard Leagues works in exactly the same concept as the earlier developed Charter Standard Club Award. The award is a flagship initiative awarded by The FA and assesses the ability of a League to provide a high quality, safe and enjoyable football experience against a standard set of criteria.

It also encourages the League to continually develop, giving direction and purpose through a carefully written Development Plan. This development plan will allow the Devon County FA and the league officers to work closely in initiatives that will hopefully improve youth football in the area in which the league operates.

"I am delighted that the Exeter and District Youth League have achieved The FA Charter Standard League award. This is a great testament to their hard work, and more importantly underlines their commitment in working with the County FA to develop youth football within this area of the County," said Mark Young, the Devon County FA’s Football Development Officer.

"We believe that the benefits for the Charter Standard League programme are there for all to see, evidence of this can be seen in the County’s existing Charter Standard Leagues. Take the Devon Girls Football League – they have developed eleven new teams since they began implementing their development plan at the beginning of the 2009-10 season.

"Please understand that the amount of work and time committed in making these development plans work is substantial, and the tireless effort that the League Committees have put into making them work is second to none. We are extremely proud to be associated with these kinds of personnel who work in our Leagues and Clubs. Without their hard work, commitment and forward thinking attitude, it would be extremely difficult to improve grassroots football.

"The development plan that is written in partnership between the County FAs and the Leagues is invaluable in the development of youth football in the local community. It allows most issues that arise in grassroots football to be highlighted and brought to the forefront. The key partners in addressing these issues can then work together and put action plans and time lines in place to overcome any barriers that prevent youth development."

As part of the criteria to attain the League award, clubs have also had to become Charter Standard Clubs and therefore undertake some key areas of improvement in their operating standards. Each club must now have in place amongst other things, a Club Welfare Officer, a Child Protection Policy, all volunteers to have CRB checks and managers and coaches to have appropriate Coaching, Safeguarding Children and Emergency Aid qualifications.

Dave Keast, County Welfare Officer for the Devon County FA, explained: "Everybody who is involved within the league needs to be congratulated, from the League Management Committee to their membership clubs. The Exeter and District League has always been a forward thinking league. We have always had a strong relationship with the league and their membership clubs. The clubs have always been committed to supporting events and courses that we offer to aid the development of their volunteer workforce."

Russell Murch, League Secretary of the Exeter and District Youth League, spoke of his delight at achieving the award, adding: "This award represents our league's commitment to grassroots football and is great reward for John Penkethman, our Chairman, who has dedicated a large part of his life towards making the League such a success over the last 15 years and Julie Logan whose hard work in preparing the application should not go un-noticed.

"There are a great deal of unsung heroes behind the scenes, all of which would agree with me that the  Exeter and District Youth League are honoured to achieve the award. The award is a reflection of the hard work and dedication of both the Management Committee and member clubs over the last few years. We have achieved large amounts of success since our formation in 1995.

"We see the development plan as the perfect tool in our vision to continue developing. It gives direction, and with the County FA’s continued support and the relationship we continue to develop with them, youth football in our area will only benefit from it.  We have a lot of hard work in front of us, but we have very committed clubs and a very committed workforce which will allow us to succeed."