HAMPSHIRE Football Association has been successfully shortlisted for three County FA Recognition Awards.

The awards, which will be announced at Wembley Stadium connected by EE on Thursday, November 23, recognise and endorse the best projects, products and services delivered by County FAs over the past season while sharing best practices and learnings from around the country.

A record-breaking 242 submissions have been entered from the 50 County FAs operating across England, highlighting continuous improvements, and showcasing how they are innovating to improve grassroots football and increase participation across all levels of the game.

Of the 12 categories of award, Hampshire FA has been shortlisted in three of them. The association has made the shortlist in the brand engagement category for its work alongside Basingstoke-based sports, health and leisure agency, Topodium Group, to increase the awareness of the Hampshire FA Academy – the FA’s own full-time education programme for 16-18-year-olds.

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Hampshire FA is also shortlisted for the employee wellbeing and engagement category for the Hampshire FA Culture Review – a process that enabled it to provide an enhanced, safe and enjoyable environment for staff – and in the referee development category for its Club Match Official Workshops - a series of workshops designed to support local leagues and clubs, and parents who act as either a referee or an assistant referee in accordance with league rules.

Hampshire FA CEO, Neil Cassar, said: “I’m incredibly proud of the team for this great recognition. I know everybody has worked hard over the last season, and to have three of our projects shortlisted for a 2023 County FA Recognition Award is a great achievement. Our submissions this year were even stronger than in previous seasons, so I would like to thank The FA for the recognition of our efforts in the grassroots game.”

Tim Foster, the FA’s head of operations for grassroots football, added: “I’d like to congratulate Hampshire FA in making the final shortlist for the brand engagement; employee wellbeing and engagement; and referee development awards and all of the other shortlisted County FAs in what has been a record-breaking number of submissions this year.

“It has been fantastic to see such a strong selection of programmes and projects entered across the twelve categories, and we look forward to hosting our County FAs at Wembley Stadium in November to thank them for all they do in serving our national game.”