Derbyshire County Football Association [DCFA] has been successfully shortlisted for the Partnership Award and the Brand Engagement Award at the 2022 County FA Recognition Awards.

The Awards, which will be announced at Wembley Stadium connected by EE on Thursday 15 September 2022, recognise and endorse the best projects, products and services delivered by County FAs over the past two seasons while sharing best practice and learnings from around the country.

A record breaking 235 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.

The eleven categories which will be recognised at the awards were:

• Brand Engagement
• Coach Development
• Digital Engagement
• Employee Engagement
• Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
• Football Development
• Insight & Data
• Partnership
• Special recognition
• Women & Girls
• Youth Engagement

Derbyshire FA has made the final shortlist for the Partnership Award for the project to improve and maintain the quality of grass pitches after an influx of bad weather left pitches in a bad state, having a detrimental effect on grassroots games in the area. DCFA worked alongside Derby City Council, Derby Junior Football League and Derbyshire Girls & Ladies League to successfully deliver the project. Derbyshire FA also made the final shortlist for the Brand Engagement Award due to the effective, modern rebrand in 2021 which helped boost the County FA's online presence and delivery.

 The Derbyshire FA's Chief Executive Officer, Ricky Stevenson said:

"I'm very proud of the work that we put in every day at Derbyshire FA and it's fantastic to earn recognition. We are only a year into our strategy and already the results are clear to see.

"To be shortlisted for the Partnership Award is very rewarding as it highlights our relationship with local organisations and our drive to develop and enhance the football experience for our community. Being shortlisted for the Brand Engagement Award is also very pleasing, as it shows that we are engaging our community online, making football accessible to all.

"We're very proud to be shortlisted for these awards, and will continue to push ourselves to reach new highs."

The FA’s Head of Operations for Grassroots Football, Tim Foster added:

“I’d like to congratulate Derbyshire FA in making the final shortlist for the Partnership Award and the Brand Engagement Award, and all of the other County FAs for their excellent submissions which are testament to their dedication and achievements over the past two seasons.

“The long-standing partnership between the FA and County FAs is a crucial part of our long-term strategy for grassroots football. The partnership is committed to serving those that participate and are involved in the game, and providing the leadership needed to ensure future generations continue to enjoy and benefit from our national game.

“We look forward to recognising and rewarding our County FAs at Wembley Stadium in September and thanking each and every one of them for the vital work they deliver across their local communities.”

For more information on the work of County FAs, visit: https://www.englandfootball.com/explore/county-football-associations