The NW&DFL have achieved a prestigious Football Association award after achieving the honour of becoming the top League in the Country for the work we have done on the Respect Campaign.
The Respect award was presented to recognise the work the League, our Club and our Spectators have done to continually improve and promote high standards of behaviour on and off the pitch.
Considering the nomination entered by the NW&DFL were Judges, whic included sports journalists Mick Dennis of the Daily Express and Jim White of the Daily Telegraph, as well Paddy Harverson of Clarence House and Stephanie Moore MBE of the Bobby Moore Fund for Cancer Research UK. They were joined by The FA’s Sir Trevor Brooking (Director of Football Development), Jonathan Hall (Director of Football Services), Barry Bright (FA Council Member) and Alex Welsh of the London Playing Fields Association.
Since its launch in 2007 the FA’s Respect programme has helped achieve a real improvement in behaviour on and off the pitch from the top of the professional game through to the grassroots.
The highlight of the season to date has been the 9% increase in the number of qualified referees with the number having risen to 25,502, compared to the same period for 2008/09. There has also been a 45% increase in the recruitment of referees at Level Nine – the first step on the road to becoming a fully-fledged referee – with 5,197 new recruits taking to the field up and down the country.
Kevan Williams, League chairman received the Grassroots Youth League award from High Royal Highness, Prince William at Wembley Stadium, and the Prince said.....
“Unfashionable as the word may sound, sportsmanship underpins everything good and worthwhile about our national game. What is so important about these Respect and Fair Play Awards is that they acknowledge and reward those who play fair and encourage fair play – true sportsmen and women.
“Everything about why I wanted to become President of the Football Association is encapsulated by what the winners this afternoon represent. Whilst I remain President of the FA, promoting sportsmanship and stamping out the deplorable scenes that have blighted our game in the past, will be my goal.”
Kevan Williams said....."the award comes after a lot of hard work and effort by all concerned and we are very proud to have achieved such an important accreditation, which wouldn't have been possible without the support of our member clubs who have embraced the Respect Campaign since it's inception.
This is a great accolade for all concerned with the NW&DFL and we were very proud to have been awarded the number one Grassroots Youth League in the Country".
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