ESFA Volunteering opportunities- Counties and Districts

As part of the ESFA’s new volunteering strategy aiming to rejuvenate the ESFA’s volunteer workforce across England, we are highlighting the volunteering opportunities across England that are available at your local County Schools’ FA and the District Schools’ FA’s in your area.

Associations around the country could always use an extra pair of hands, whether your skills lie in the football itself or the day-to-day running of fixtures. Below is a list of existing opportunities across the country that associations have asked us to advertise.

If you do not see an opportunity available in your area, please contact your local County or District Schools’ FA to see what opportunities they have available.


Ashford District Schools FA (Kent)

  • Team Managers and Assistant Managers
  • Matchday admin/refreshment assistant

If you are interested in any of the above vacancies, please contact the Ashford DSFA Secretary Katie Ransley via email on [email protected]


Barnsley & District Schools’ FA

Coaches and Managers

Role details: To provide the football education for Barnsley Schoolchildren, both boys and girls, from Year 5 (Under 10) through to Year 10 (Under 15), through structured, safe and engaging sessions, involving weekly training and playing opportunities. All volunteers need FA Introduction to Coaching, DBS and Safeguarding qualifications plus Emergency 1st Aid qualifications. Financial help is given to gain these for volunteers. All district association clothing and equipment is provided for volunteers.

Contact Steve Gates (Chairperson and Secretary) [email protected] or on 07841511532 for more information.


Berkshire County Schools’ FA

There may be opportunities available in your area please email David Lailey on [email protected] to find out more and to register your interest in volunteering.


Bolton Schools’ FA

District Team Coach

  • Will need to be committed to coaching and managing a district squad (boys or girls) at age U11, U12, U13, U14 or U15 for a full season.
  • Liaise with district secretary and other associations to arrange fixtures.
  • Will need to be an FA qualified coach and have a completed a full FA CRC/DBS check.

  District Team Assistant Coach   

  • Will need to be committed to supporting the coaching and managing a district squad (boys or girls) at age U11, U12, U13, U14 or U15 for a full season.
  • To work with and support the Head Coach of the team.
  • Will need to be an FA qualified coach and have completed a full FA CRC/DBS check.

Physiotherapist

  • Should be committed to supporting one or more district sides throughout the season.
  • Should possess a full, enhanced CRC/DBS check.
  • Would have or be working towards a relevant qualification in Physiotherapy.

  Goalkeeping coach

  • Should be committed to supporting one or more district sides throughout the season.
  • Should possess a full, enhanced CRC/DBS check.
  • Would have an FA Goalkeeping coach qualification.

Social Media Officer

  • Should be committed to updating social media platforms and our association website on a regular basis.
  • Should possess a full, enhanced CRC/DBS check.

Fundraising officer

  • To plan and facilitate fund raising activities on behalf of the association.
  • Should possess a full, enhanced CRC/DBS check.

Although additional help with the county representative teams for both boys and girls would be welcomed, the necessity for next season is for volunteers to run competitions, organise the county matches, and liaise with the English Schools’ FA, our member districts, and the schools within the county. Although these are volunteer positions, it is time that is freely given, and we expect members of our team to claim travel and other approved expenses.

For more details on the opportunities within Bolton Schools’ FA, please contact Andrew Jackson on [email protected].


Cambridgeshire Schools’ FA

There may be opportunities available in your area please email Doug Finlayson on [email protected] to find out more and to register your interest in volunteering.


Cheshire County Schools’ FA

CHESHIRE SCHOOLS’ FA FIXTURES SECRETARY 

Cheshire Schools FA runs four county teams: U14 Girls. U16 Girls, U16 Boys and U18 Boys. The teams compete in the Northern Counties Championship which involves 4-6 games per team with the possibility of more games should teams progress to the later stages of their competitions. There is also a knock-out cup competition for the two boys’ teams. Most matches take place between Mondays and Thursdays. 

We are looking for someone to serve as fixtures secretary for our county teams. This would involve: 

  • Liaising with the Cheshire managers and opposition secretaries to agree dates and KO times for fixtures. 
  • Booking venues for home matches. As matches tend to be played midweek these tend to be club grounds with floodlights. Contact needs to be made with a club official and cost of hire agreed. 
  • Contacting the referees’ secretary who will appoint match officials for home matches. 
  • Organising post-match catering by liaising with the host club. 
  • Ensuring that information about the games is provided for all relevant people. 
  • Gathering details from both sides about the squads for each game for the match day programme.  
  • Informing RTCs about forthcoming Girls’ matches (they require a minimum of two weeks’ notice of county games). 
  • Liaising with Cheshire Schools FA secretary who will oversee the fixtures programme and ensure that the games are adequately staffed. 
  • Re-scheduling postponed matches. 

GENERAL HELP WITH COUNTY MATCHES AND OTHER ACTIVITIES 

Cheshire Schools FA is looking for help with staffing our home inter-county matches which generally take place on midweek evenings on club grounds. Help would be welcome with manning the gate, helping with kit, welcoming officials, helping with refreshments etc. Similar help would be welcome at our cup competition finals and football festivals which take place between January and May. This type of support might appeal to retired teachers. Adults Other Than Teachers would also be very welcome to join our team of volunteers.   

We would also welcome any ideas on how to raise money to support our many activities. If anyone would like to be involved in fund raising for our association we would love to hear from you! 

If you are interested in either of the above vacancies with Cheshire CSFA, please contact the Secretary John Clark via email on [email protected]


Cornwall County Schools’ FA

Treasurer

  • Oversees the Affiliation & Competition Entry processes. Reconciliation of Bank Receipts to Affiliations & Competition Entries 
  • Payment of Invoices (only a few per season) 
  • Presentation of Income & Expenditure and Balance Sheet to the AGM 

County Team Secretary 

  • Liaise with Executive Officer & County Team Manager 
  • Arrange County Fixtures in Partnership with Team Manager 
  • Provides Expenses information to the Executive Officer & Treasurer 

If you are interested in either of the above vacancies with Cornwall CSFA, please contact the Secretary Ray Brown via email on [email protected]


Dover District Schools’ FA (Kent)

Dover Schools’ Football Association are looking for team managers/coaches for the 2023/24 season.  We require volunteers to look after girls secondary age teams (from under 12 to under 16).  Matches are played on Saturdays from September to April (time commitment approx three to four hours) plus training as determined by the team manager.  Ideally, we would like teachers or ex-teachers but would consider others that have both coaching qualifications and DBS certificate.

If you are interested in the above vacancies with Dover Schools’ FA, please contact the Secretary Gordon Bryant via email on [email protected]


East Cornwall District Schools’ FA

Chairman 

  • Chairs district meetings 
  • Oversees the work of the District in partnership with Secretary & Treasurer 
  • Chairs the District Meetings & AGM 

Secretary 

  • Manages the Administration of the District Association 
  • Provides Admin support to the District Team Managers 
  • Liaises with County Executive Officer, as required 

Treasurer 

  • Reconciliation of Bank Receipts to Affiliations & Competition Entries 
  • Payment of Invoices (only a few per season) 
  • Presentation of Income & Expenditure and Balance Sheet to the AGM 

Team Manager or Assistant Team Manager 

  • Provide Representative Football for Year 8, Year 9 or Year 10  
  • Liaise with District Secretary to arrange fixtures 
  • Must possess a FA Coaching Qualification 

If you are interested in the above vacancies with East Cornwall DSFA, please contact the Secretary Ray Brown via email on [email protected]


Gedling Primary Schools’ FA

Volunteer Referees 

Role details:  We are looking for qualified referees to officiate Y5/6 7-a-side league games. Matches usually take place after school (approximately 4.00pm kick off) and last for 2 x 25 minute halves. Having a volunteer referree assigned to a match would support with staff workload.

For more information please contact Chris Baker on [email protected]


Gravesham District Schools’ FA

Referees’ Secretary

We would welcome a volunteer to appoint referees for our District matches which usually take place on a Saturday morning. This is likely to involve a maximum of 3 matches a week, and we anticipate it taking a maximum of one hour a week to complete during the schools’ football season – September to April. Existing contacts with local referees would be helpful but not essential. Any volunteers would need to meet our safeguarding procedures. If you feel you are able to help and make a difference to schools’ football in Gravesham, please contact [email protected]

Social Media photographer

We would welcome a volunteer to photograph home matches so that action pictures can be posted on our twitter account.  This would involve taking photos at matches in the Gravesend area and messaging them to our Secretary to post on our twitter account and website. Any volunteers would need to meet our safeguarding procedures. We anticipate this taking about 2 hours on most Saturdays during the schools’ football season – September to April. Any volunteers would need to meet our safeguarding procedures.  If you feel you are able to help and make a difference to schools’ football in Gravesham, please contact [email protected]

Fundraising Co-ordinator

We would welcome a volunteer to support us to raise funds to help develop opportunities for youngsters to participate in district football within Gravesham.  We anticipate that this role would involve no more than a few hours a month. Any volunteers would need to meet our safeguarding procedures.  If you feel you are able to help and make a difference to schools’ football in Gravesham, please contact [email protected]

Girls’ District Managers / Development

We would welcome a volunteer / volunteers to support to offer opportunities for girls to play representative district football for Gravesham. We would like to have teams in place for September 2023 when the commitment would anticipated to be at least 2 Saturday mornings a week when matches are played. Prior to this we would like a volunteer / volunteers to begin to recruit players through training and trials which we would anticipate happening between April and July 2023. Any volunteers would need to meet our safeguarding procedures.  If you feel you are able to help and make a difference to schools’ football in Gravesham, please contact [email protected]

If you are interested in the above vacancies with Gravesham District Schools’ FA, please contact the Secretary Paul Jackson via email on [email protected]


Hertfordshire County Schools’ FA

There are a number of volunteering opportunities within the Hertfordshire Schools’ FA to assist with the smooth running and development of Schools’ Football. These include Representative Team physiotherapists, Cup Final liaison, and the possibility of Representative Team management. For further details, please contact us via the Hertfordshire Schools’ FA website – www.hertsschoolsfa.co.uk


Merton Schools’ FA

There may be opportunities available in Merton please email [email protected] or visit https://mertonssp.org.uk/our-programmes/work-experience/ to find out more and to register your interest in volunteering.


Middlesex County Schools’ FA

General Secretary

Primary Tasks 

  • To oversee and manage the day-to-day activities of the Association 
  • To ensure that the Association is affiliated to and its competitions sanctioned by the English Schools’ Football Association (ESFA) and to act as the primary contact between the Association and ESFA 
  • To support the Competition Organisers by reviewing their application of the Competition Rules in the event of disputes between schools, missed deadlines and so on. 
  • To convene Management Committee and Annual General Meetings and take the minutes of those meetings 
  • To lead on the scheduling of the County Cup Finals and other Association events 

Skills Required 

  • Strong administrative skills 
  • Strong written language skills 
  • Good time management skills 

Desirable Skills

  • Knowledge of and / or experience of football governance 
  • Knowledge of the FA Standard Code of Rules 

Communications Manager

Primary Tasks 

  • To manage the Association’s website 
  • To manage and develop the Association’s Twitter account and other social media channels as appropriate 
  • To manage and develop the Association’s monthly newsletter 

Skills Required 

  • Knowledge of WordPress or a similar online Content Management System 
  • Strong written language skills 
  • Basic graphic and photo editing skills  

Desirable Skills

  • Experience with the Adobe Creative Suite (particularly Photoshop and InDesign) 

Treasurer

Primary Tasks 

  • To manage the Association’s financial affairs, in conjunction with the Middlesex FA’s staff 
  • To ensure that competition entries are invoiced and payments received in a timely fashion 
  • To ensure the Association’s costs are controlled at all times 

Skills Required 

  • Competence with Microsoft Excel 
  • Strong mathematical and financial management skills 

If you are interested in the above vacancies with Middlesex County Schools’ FA, please contact the Secretary Gareth Coates via email on [email protected]


Sheffield Schools’ FA

Sheffield Schools FA has opportunities for  teachers and support staff to join our coaching team. Financial support for FA Coaching awards is available as well as working alongside existing experienced coaches. If you are interested, please don’t hesitate to get in touch by emailing [email protected]


Stroud District Schools’ FA

Positive Role Models in coaching and officiating

Role details: Coaching and Officiating roles in schools in the Stroud Area to increase engagement of girls in football in curriculum and extra-curricular activities.

If you are interested in the above vacancy or any other role with Stroud District Schools’ FA, please contact Sharron Bates- [email protected].


Suffolk CSFA

There may be opportunities available in your area please email [email protected] to find out more and to register your interest in volunteering.