League wins another Respect award

The prestigious awards - now in their fourth year - celebrate those leagues, clubs and individuals at all levels of the game that are supporting The FA’s Respect programme by driving up standards of behaviour, supporting referees and promoting fair play.

As a Silver Award winner, the Ryman league has been recognised as the best grassroots league in the region and for their prize will also have the choice of hosting The FA Cup or a celebrity football speaker at a league event, funding to improve coaching , or hospitality tickets to see England at Wembley.

The FA’s Respect Manager Dermot Collins said: “Achieving the Silver Award has marked out the Ryman League out as one of the very best leagues in the country. They have done some truly great work which the FA will use to inspire others”.
Collins added: “Through education, promotion, campaigning and dogged perseverance they have changed the behaviour of teams and individuals and in doing so help ensure the continuing health of our national game.”

The league is among eight Silver Award regional winners who now progress to the next stage of judging which will determine the overall national Gold Award winner. This will be announced at an awards ceremony prior to the FA Cup Final at Wembley Stadium on the 11 May 2013. The Ryman League won the Gold Award last season.

The judging panel for the Gold awards includes Bobby Moore’s widow Stephanie Moore MBE, of the Bobby Moore Fund for Cancer Research, sports journalists Mick Dennis of the Daily Express and Jim White from the Daily Telegraph and, from The FA, Sir Trevor Brooking, Barry Bright and Jack Pearce.