All of this week's featured winners will be FA guests at  Wembley Stadium on October 13 when England face Estonia and under the spotlight today is Norfolk’s Freethorpe YFC………

The flag for good football practice is flying high over Norfolk with Freethorpe YFC picking up The FA’s 2007 Charter Standard National Club of the Year Award.

Based near Gt Yarmouth, the club share this year’s accolade with Faversham Strike Force of Kent and Freethorpe secretary, Stephen Smith, is delighted that their hard work has been recognised: “We were the first Adult Charter Standard Club in the county so it’s great to receive some national recognition especially in our first season as a Charter Standard Youth Club.”

There’s no doubt in Stephen’s mind that the Charter Standard has helped with Freethorpe’s progression over the last few years with the club building up a female football section with three girls teams and five women coaches: “It’s definitely been like a chalice of development for us because it’s not only enabled us to set up a proper framework for the club but opened so many doors as well.”

Working with local schools is high on the club’s agenda and Stephen explained more about their School Club Link with Freethorpe County Primary: “We host an annual football day at the school where our coaches help with football themed classroom lessons in the morning before everyone moves outside in the afternoon for fun activities and football skills. It’s been really successful and something we look forward to,” said Stephen who has been a volunteer at Freethorpe YFC for almost 40 years. 

Freethorpe’s ground boasts 11-a-side and Mini Soccer facilities and their recent Barclay’s Spaces for Sport grant meant Stephen could host a series of Futsal sessions for the adult members of the club on their floodlit Multi Use Game Area: “It’s a great game and something that we’d been planning for a long time because we want to get everyone trained up as coaches and referees before rolling it out to the youth sides and local schools.

“I’ve been a footballer for years and was breathless after just five minutes of Futsal but I’m sure the children from the local area will love it as it’s great for skill and technique.”

Norfolk FA’s County Development Manager, Gavin Lemmon, commented: “We’re extremely proud of Freethorpe’s deserved achievement and national recognition and the growth of the club has been driven by Stephen Smith and a hardworking committee.

“Their commitment and attitude in providing opportunities to the local community of all ages has been fantastic.”