Nomads Receive FA Approval.

Cheshire County Football Association has awarded Chester Nomads AFC the prestigious FA Charter Standard Club award for grass roots football.

The national FA Charter Standard Club award is presented to those clubs like Chester Nomads who lead the field in promoting best football practice, both on and off the pitch in grassroots football.

Phil Darlington, Chairman of Chester Nomads AFC, which has over 150 adult members and 125 junior members and strong links with the Bishop’s High School, Wrexham Football Club and the local community is quoted as saying that, “Receiving the Charter Standard award from the FA is an accolade that reflects all of the hard work done by the club’s committees and their dedication to the club.”

Mike Appollonio, chairman of the junior section believes that, “Every manager and coach associated with the club now knows that they have to meet and maintain the high standards the FA expects and have been on all of the various courses prescribed by them. This means that parents of our junior members can be assured that their children are in safe hands in an environment that will help develop their child and their football skills.”

Steve Parker, Child Protection Officer for the junior section, says, “Chester Nomads are committed to trying to achieve excellence in the coaching provided and also in terms of their play on the pitch. They also strive to be successful. However this must not be at any costs. The club is very sensitive to child protection issues and the child’s welfare must be paramount. Children are encouraged to be competitive but also to behave properly whether in victory or defeat. It is equally important that parents and coaches set a good example for the children to follow.“

Chester Nomads AFC was formed in 1904 and now in its 101’st year has seven adult sides, seven mini soccer sides and five junior league teams playing in the West Cheshire, Chester and District and Ellesmere Port Leagues. The club is headquartered at Boughton Hall and has additional facilities at Eaton Road in Handbridge but still carries its Nomads name from its early beginnings when, despite having established fixture lists, by the time written records began in 1904, the club had neither a name nor a home ground. Only in 1913, when the club started renting pitches from Boughton Hall CC was a home ground established but the Nomads name stuck. Since then the club has gone from strength to strength achieving success in local, regional and national competitions through the generous support of its members and local businesses such as Bill Smith Motors, the juniors’ current sponsor. With the FA Charter Standard award, the club now firmly believes that not only is it bigger than ever, but that the quality of its training and development of players meets the highest standards.

Chester Nomads was presented with their award at their main ground Boughton Hall Cricket Club on March 10^th by James Self (CCFA Football Development Officer) and Doug Johnson (Chester DFA).

Sir Trevor Brooking, The FA’ Director of Football Development comments: ”The FA Charter Standard award acknowledges the fantastic support that Chester Nomads is providing within the local community and its efforts to provide opportunities for players to develop their skills and play football in a safe and positive environment”. “The FA is committed to raising standards of football at grassroots level and the dedication and achievements of clubs like Chester Nomads AFC make this possible.”

The FA Charter Standard programme, supported by FA partner McDonald’s was established three years ago and aims to improve standards of coaching, administration, player development and child protection.

Since then, over 38 clubs representing more than 365 teams in Cheshire have achieved FA Charter Standard Club, Development or Community status.