Regent volunteers help the club grow
Brightlingsea Regent have added a host of volunteers- and the club is reaping the benefits
By Paul Martin
Brightlingsea Regent are reaping the rewards of spreading the word as they continue to build their volunteering team.
The Pitching In Isthmian League Division One North outfit have added a matchday photographer, digital content creator, matchday announcer and ladies’ team treasurer in recent months, through a combination of social media and the Pitching In Volunteer Hub.
Club secretary Martin Bright, who himself only joined 12 months ago, has enjoyed seeing the team behind the team bolstered and hopes more local residents can experience the benefits of giving time to a local football club.
“There is a really loyal, committed bunch who have been around for a long time, along with our newer faces,” he said.
“On a matchday, all in, across the teams, men’s, ladies, youth, walking football, there are probably a good 40 volunteers that help run the club.
“It’s a great feeling standing there on a Saturday afternoon and seeing a crowd of 250 people, both sets of players and coaches, the people in the bar, blokes standing next to each other catching up, kids running around in their Brightlingsea shirts, knowing you have played a part in that happening. You are contributing to a team in the football pyramid.”
At 38, Bright admits he still feels young when in league-wide meetings and is keen for the club to provide opportunities for the next generation.
“We have a great age range in our volunteers,” he said.
“There are those who are retired and spend their free time touching up the ground and cleaning, with one in particular taking great pride in the condition of the changing rooms.
“Then we also have younger people, like William Mallard-Smith, who writes website content and contributes towards the physical and digital programme.
“He has just started Uni, and my cousin, Jake, is in his second year at UCFB Wembley studying football business management. He’s my registration secretary.
“We also had two media interns from UCFB who did a year with us to gain experience and are now with other clubs. We are very grateful for the existing volunteer group we have but we are also looking to give opportunities to youngsters.
“These days, you need more people doing more things, so you have to spread the load. We are very lucky to have a very loyal team.”
On the pitch, The R’s have had a tricky start to the season and are winless after nine league games, though they have recently added former Colchester star Karl Duguid to their coaching team in a bid to climb the table.
But win, lose or draw, their volunteers will still be out in force – with any future opportunities available to view on the Pitching In Volunteer Hub.
Launched in 2022, the website allows users to input their postcode and find volunteering opportunities at clubs near them across the country.
“The roles we have filled so far have been definite success stories,” Bright added.
“Lower league football is becoming a bit more formal and organised, and it is really good to be able to show professional-looking job listings for tasks that need doing.
“With the services the FA and the league require us to use, the hub goes hand-in-hand with that.”
Find volunteering opportunities near you at https://pitchinginvolunteers.co.uk/