Steyning Town win club and volunteer gongs at Sussex FA awards

Steyning Town have been awarded the prestigious Charter Standard Community Club of the Year award.
Steyning Towns Marco Spano, Ian Nicholls, Dave Shepard, Daniel Fuller-Smith and Richard Woodbridge collect the awards. Picture by Simon RoeSteyning Towns Marco Spano, Ian Nicholls, Dave Shepard, Daniel Fuller-Smith and Richard Woodbridge collect the awards. Picture by Simon Roe
Steyning Towns Marco Spano, Ian Nicholls, Dave Shepard, Daniel Fuller-Smith and Richard Woodbridge collect the awards. Picture by Simon Roe

The gong is part of the Sussex County FA annual awards evening which was held at the Amex Stadium at the end of September.

The event sees a number of grassroots football heroes from across Sussex honoured and recognised for the work they do in the game.

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In attendance were The FA chief executive Martin Glenn and Brighton & Hove Albion chief Paul Barber along with all the Sussex FA dignitaries.

It was a double win for Steyning as club secretary Daniel Fuller-Smith also collected a volunteer award.

The club - who meet the FA Charter Standard requirements and were the first Nike Partner Club in Sussex - was recognised due to its close community roots. Experienced club coaches spend time working with the younger age groups and they work closely with the local organisations.

Fuller-Smith meanwhile received his award having transformed the under-18 section at the club since he joined in 2012. They run three teams in that age group and one at under-21.

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Fuller-Smith was also behind the Charter Standard award and bring the senior and junior sections together.

Steyning’s Charter Development officer Dave Shepard said: “The club’s ethos is better facilities and better coaches leading to better players and we have invested over £4,000 in the last year alone coaching courses, first aid and safeguarding.

“We currently have seven FA level twos, four youth module twos and two youth module threes which ensures that we can give our players the best coaching we can at this level. As an FA Community Charter Club we already sit at the top of the accreditation pyramid with just a handful of other clubs, but this award is a fantastic reward for all the hard work that our volunteers put in outside of what most of our players and player’s parents see.”

Fuller-Smith added: “To be recognised personally with a workforce volunteer award along with some very dedicated people and having it presented by the CEO of the FA, Martin Glenn, was great recognition for the time I invest in youth football at Steyning Town.”

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