Benchmark award will benefit every club

The Evo-Stik Northern Premier League’s new status as an FA Charter Standard League will see clubs enjoying easier access to grant funding, a stronger hand when negotiating future commercial deals and a range of other benefits led by a greater standing in their own communities.

That is the verdict of delighted officials celebrating the Football Association’s decision to award the league itself FA Charter Standard League status, the news announced in Sunday's Non-League Paper.

Launched in 2009 in partnership with McDonalds, only an elite group of approximately 120 FA sanctioned competitions out of more than 1,200 have been recognised to date. Apart from joining that elite group, the Evo-Stik NPL becomes only the second in the National League System to earn the FA’s badge of ‘excellence’ after the Southern League.

As well as opening up new funding routes for clubs, statistics and feedback since the scheme was launched also show that FA Charter Standard leagues and clubs are more likely to attract sponsors, advertisers and investors, their status having helped them to better weather the harsh economic climate of recent seasons.

NPL Chairman Mark Harris hailed the league’s countless volunteers for the key roles they'd played in winning the FA's award, both for their individual clubs and now the league.

He said: "This highly prestigious award recognises the hard work put in by the many volunteers at our 68 clubs to place them at the heart of their local communities. Well done to all.

"Charter Standard status is all about inclusion, equality, acceptance and integrity. Each of these qualities reflects the values of the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League so I am delighted and very proud."

Under the FA’s strict range of criteria, at least 60 per cent of a league’s clubs have to achieve FA Chartered Standard status for a league to be eligible. More than 80 per cent of the Evo-Stik NPL’s clubs now proudly bear the sponsor’s kite mark with the remainder on course to earn it too. League Secretary Angie Firth is determined it won't be long before that target is achieved and is confident the high standards required can be maintained.

Thanking individual clubs for their efforts, she added: "I see the League attaining the Charter Standard Award as a huge honour and something we should all be proud of. It shows how the NPL and our member clubs are looking to raise standards and promote the game at this level of the National League System.

"Congratulations to the people at all our clubs who have worked very hard. There is still work to be done in retaining this valued status and to ensure all 68 clubs achieve and retain the FA’s Charter Standard Club Award by promoting best practice, inclusion, equality and acceptance.

"As a league and group we’ve shown we can do it already and now I’m looking forward to seeing every one of our clubs achieve FA Charter Standard status and go on to enjoy the benefits it will bring them."