Presented before their league fixture against Huntington Ladies on Sunday, Sheriff Hutton Ladies were awarded their Charter Standard plaque and certificate celebrating a culmination of hard work and commitment in working towards this national benchmark for quality.
Sheriff Hutton Ladies have gone from strength to strength in recent seasons. Initially starting out as a few friends who loved playing football, they took the brave step of registering with the local league to play competitive football. It took a while to get going, with rather too many losses to mention, including several where the score-lines went into double figures! Eventually however, they won a competitive match and now, just two seasons on, Sheriff Hutton is now one of the strongest and most competitive teams in the league. Priding themselves on the fact that they’ve lost none of the fun element they set off with; their ethos is that the important thing is not winning, but just to play the best football that they can.
On their award, Diane Neville, Club Captain, said “This is a fabulous achievement for a club as small as ours. This kind of recognition of the clubs efforts will hopefully raise the profile of the club, and Women’s football in the York area in general, and encourage others to get involved. We’re always looking for more players – everyone is welcome. Sheriff Hutton is a brilliant club and one that I’m very proud to be a part of.”
Emily Toase, Football Development Officer for North Riding County FA commented; “This is a fantastic achievement for Sheriff Hutton Ladies. They have worked incredibly hard to develop their club and achieve this status and I’m delighted to be able to present them with this award.
“North Riding is committed to raising the standards of football at grassroots level and the work and achievements of clubs like Sheriff Hutton Ladies F.C. make this possible”.
The FA Charter Standard Scheme, supported by FA partner McDonald’s, is designed to raise the standards of coaching, administration, player development and child protection for clubs working with young people. Set as a best practice guide, the Charter Standard Award recognises those clubs who are committed to providing quality, football opportunities in a safe environment. The award is presented to clubs like Sheriff Hutton Ladies who have raised their standards in these areas and lead the field in promoting best football practice, both on and off the pitch, in grassroots football.