Ashington Cougars FC have had a very successful 6 months
First of all the club celebrated its first 10 years being established in 1999 and the club has grown from just one U9 team in the 2001-2 season to currently six teams from U7 to U14.
In June Ashington Cougars were awarded FA CHARTER DEVELOPMENT status. The FA charter standard programme was launched in February 2001 to establish, reward and encourage good practice at the grassroots level, so that parents and children can expect a minimum standard of provision from football clubs. The project is at the heart of The Football Association’s investment programme for grassroots football and the status is awarded where the FA’s minimum standards of coaching, administration and child protection are met. There are 76 clubs in Sussex who have achieved CHARTER status but Ashington Cougars have gone one better by being one of only 15 clubs in the whole of Sussex that have been awarded CHARTER DEVELOPMENT status.
In October, Ashington Cougars were runners up in the inaugural County Times Community Awards in the “Sports Team of the Year” category. The club was one of many sports clubs from the Horsham District to be put forward for the award. The nomination applauded the club for providing structured training and great club atmosphere for village youngsters. It also focuses on the fact that the club is run entirely by volunteers and has just celebrated its 10th year. The awards ceremony took place on the 1st October at the Capitol Theatre in Horsham and Stuart Wood, club chairman, along with several of the clubs managers were present to receive the award.
Hot on the heals of the County Times Award the club was notified it was also in the running for “Sports Team of the Year” in the Worthing Herald Community Stars awards hosted by Fred Dinenage at the Worthing Assembly Halls on the 1st Nov. The nominee said “that the village owes a lot to the volunteers of the club, the club has gone from strength to strength”. Unfortunately again the award was not to be, however the boys were happy to meet Fred and also pose for a photo.
The club has 6 teams U14, U13, U10, U9, U8 and U7 competing in the Horsham Youth Football League playing games on Saturday mornings at the Ashington Rec or Steyning Grammar School. Space exists within all age groups and more information can be found on the club website at www.ashingtoncougarsfc.co.uk along with a contact form to register interest in joining the club.
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