Moatmen enter charter standard club

Proud officials at Gresley FC have announced that they’ve joined the growing list of Evo-Stik Northern Premier League clubs who’ve attained the Football Association’s sought after Charter Standard Club status.

The First Division South’s Moatmen revealed on Sunday that they’d received formal notification from the FA that their plaque and certificate was on the way ahead of the weekend’s action.

Gresley’s delighted Chairman Barry North said: “To have received the FA Charter Club award is reward for all the hard work that the board, staff, players and volunteers have put into the club since we formed in 2009 and shows that the club is determined to continue to progress both on and off the pitch."

He added: "The board would like to thank our Football in the Community officer Matt Toulson who put in the hard work submitting the necessary documentation.”

Club development is an integral part of the FA’s National Game Strategy and the Evo-Stik NPL is encouraging all its members to achieve the benchmark in order to eventually become an FA Charter Standard League. The Derbyshire outfit are following in the footsteps of six other Evo-Stik NPL clubs to earn accreditation towards the end of 2013.

The Premier Division’s Buxton, Ilkeston FC and Matlock Town, along with First Division South Brigg Town and Salford City and Wakefield in First Division North, all passed the FA’s strict criteria in the final three months of the year by demonstrating their on-going commitment to raise standards and provide positive experiences for players, coaches, referees, administrators and volunteers alike.