FA Respect Awards
Who deserves Respect this season? Nominate now
The FA has today launched the search for its Respect Award winners for the 2014-15 season.
Each year, The FA seeks out the clubs, leagues and individuals that make football a better game across the country.
These are the champions of Respect - people prepared to go the extra mile to ensure football is fair, enjoyable and safe.
Awards are made at every level of the game and winners from the Premier League through to grassroots clubs are brought together at an award ceremony conducted prior to The FA Community Shield at Wembley in August.
In total 16 awards are made, including the prestigious Bobby Moore Trophy which recognises an exceptional individual contribution.
A range of prizes are awarded which include cash prizes, coaching bursaries, guest appearances by football speakers and hospitality at England games.
The application process can quickly be done online here and can be made by someone in a club or league, by a third party or by the nominee themselves.
"Every year we have the privilege of recognising these remarkable people," said The FA's Respect manager Dermot Collins.
"Through their hard work we can demonstrate to others that change can be made and challenges tackled to keep the game enjoyable, fair and safe.
"There are some awards available at a county, regional and national level so we’d really like people to come forward and nominate before the deadline of 4 May."
The winners from 2013-14 illustrate the diversity of the nominees. In the Premier League and Championship, Liverpool and Burnley demonstrated the possibility of playing exhilarating but disciplined football and Walsall and Exeter were deserved winners of the Fair Play Awards in Leagues One and Two.
In the National League System, The Northern Premier League (NPL) won the award for a third time in four years by fighting off strong competition from the Football Conference.
Skelmersdale United from the NPL took the club award with an effort that has transformed their disciplinary record and reputation.
The Kent County Football League distinguished themselves from many other excellent entrants by an approach which focused on supporting clubs through difficult times, rather than simply reverting to fines.
At grassroots level, the Grantham Football League attracted the attention of the judges through their relaunch of the Respect programme to their clubs and commitment to educate all parents on the support they should offer to their children.
The East Lancashire Football Alliance has worked with the Lancashire CFA to deliver an adults in children’s football course in club environments.
The production of promotional films and an integrated approach across all of the activities of Derbyshire CFA won the East Midlanders the County FA award ahead of strong competition from Leicestershire, Kent, Surrey and Somerset.
Longfleet Youth Football Club from Dorset were the Grassroots Club winner for an impressively comprehensive approach to instilling Respect into the culture of a Charter Standard Club, whereas Layton Juniors Football Club from Blackpool received recognition for doing the same with few resources to support them other than the energy and commitment of volunteers.
A Women and Girls Award went to the Herefordshire Girls League, who provide an friendly and inspiring environment to play the game.
And a People’s Award was introduced this year to recognise a spontaneous act of Respect or Fair Play with the judges opting for two inspirational winners: the generosity of AFC Bournemouth supporters who raised money to pay for the coaches of Burton Albion fans to attend a rearranged FA Cup fixture and the courage of a club Welfare Officer Jackie Smith who stood to a gang of thugs that had invaded and stopped a youth fixture intent on trouble.
The prestigious ‘Bobby Moore’ Individual Award went to Peter Malady from Hertfordshire who put himself forward to transform the culture and atmosphere of a club by a combination of education and a willingness to confront those that did not share this vision.
The application process is open until 4 May and full guidance is provided by clicking here.