Development Officer's Busman's Holiday
Wed 17th August 2016 | General | By Gary Langley
League Development Officer Gary Langley reflects on his recent ‘Busmans Holiday’ where he went on a South West fact finding mission. Returning with a tan, a full memory stick and some useful ideas that can be looked at and used over the coming months.
"We are not one for sitting back and watching the world go by here at the Hallmark Security League, we are always seeing where we can build on existing schemes or just to see what is going on in and around the country.
We have used the term ‘Groundhop’ quite liberally of late, and rightly so seeing as that is one of our big ticket items over the next few years but I myself am not averse to travelling to grounds and seeing how things tick. It stems back to my time involved in the Professional game in Scotland when I went to some grounds well and truly off the beaten track and I have maintained that interest.
I am currently in the throws of putting our League Development Plan together for the new season, it was circulated to clubs last week for feedback. As part of which I am speaking to a number of County FA’s and Clubs, not just local either. With a few days set aside to do some research, get some admin work done I decided to kill a few birds with the one stone (no animals were harmed in the duration of the break) and find some sunshine and speak to clubs with similar logistical issues to ourselves.
I have been striving to visit a club called Mousehole AFC, a Step 7 club in Cornwall for a number of years now so that had been on my radar when planning my summer activity and from that I thought it would actually be interesting to speak to representatives of the Devon FA, Cornwall FA and the South Western Premier League whilst I was down there. Well, why not? We are all in the same business?
With a few emails, messages and whatsapp’s sent in the week I had a plan so heading down to Penzance on the Friday which was to be my base for the following four days. After a train journey that can only be described as lengthy’ I settled into my digs and got sorted. The Saturday came and The Chairman of Mousehole, a very clued up gentleman by the name of Tim Richardson picked me up and took me to their excellent facility just a mile or two outside of Penzance.
One of the things Development Officers are synonymous with is assisting clubs with initiatives or pointers on where things can be sourced or what can be done in what order to Develop a club. It is slightly different with us at a league compared to a County FA, the County FA’s have specific Development Staff with a wealth of information at hand to assist clubs. This is a feature that some of our clubs may not be aware of, or perhaps don’t use as much as they could.
Because of the proximity of the County the clubs there tend generally to stay in and around the area for games, so sometimes promotion isn’t necessarily taken, clubs there build on being a community facility and representing their Towns and Village with pride. Mousehole do just that with having community days and kids training sessions. I was very impressed with their relationships with the likes of the Football Foundation, Football Stadia Improvement Fund as well as the awareness of some of the various grants available. They have also adapted part of their ground to be in use over the summer months to accommodate campers, all year round use making the best of their facilities.
It's a great club and worth a google if you are not already aware of them via publicity they have achieved over the last year or two. They also extend an invitation to Hallmark Security League Clubs for pre-season friendlies, offering free camping for clubs who want to make the trip!
Having had a great day at Mousehole I then later in the weekend moved further up the County speaking with representatives of both the Devon and Cornwall FA’s. Over some decent Coffee in Truro it was interesting to speak with organisations who face similar organisational challenges to us but with a few twists. The schemes that the County FA’s offer do vary by region but most are bound by the same guidelines from HQ. The needs of the club’s do vary but the work and planning between clubs, leagues and County FA’s are linked in a lot of cases.
It was good to compare notes and it was refreshing to see that a number of our initiatives have been taken note of in distant parts so we must be doing something right.
For us, this next Development Plan is a really important one and some of the main things I took from the trip are the fact that clubs who have an aim and plan ahead taking advantage of every positive scheme can gain lots from it but on the flip side, we, as a League need to continue to inform clubs about our initiatives as well as encouraging clubs to use their relevant County FA Development Officers. Those guys have a mine of information and from a League perspective we are keen to promote what these guys do, what courses are available and for help on grant applications.
We will be looking to build on some of the findings and will be aiming to add some workshops to that effect in our Development Plan this year."
Development Officer's Busman's Holiday
Wed 17th August 2016 | General
By Gary Langley
League Development Officer Gary Langley reflects on his recent ‘Busmans Holiday’ where he went on a South West fact finding mission. Returning with a tan, a full memory stick and some useful ideas that can be looked at and used over the coming months.
"We are not one for sitting back and watching the world go by here at the Hallmark Security League, we are always seeing where we can build on existing schemes or just to see what is going on in and around the country.
We have used the term ‘Groundhop’ quite liberally of late, and rightly so seeing as that is one of our big ticket items over the next few years but I myself am not averse to travelling to grounds and seeing how things tick. It stems back to my time involved in the Professional game in Scotland when I went to some grounds well and truly off the beaten track and I have maintained that interest.
I am currently in the throws of putting our League Development Plan together for the new season, it was circulated to clubs last week for feedback. As part of which I am speaking to a number of County FA’s and Clubs, not just local either. With a few days set aside to do some research, get some admin work done I decided to kill a few birds with the one stone (no animals were harmed in the duration of the break) and find some sunshine and speak to clubs with similar logistical issues to ourselves.
I have been striving to visit a club called Mousehole AFC, a Step 7 club in Cornwall for a number of years now so that had been on my radar when planning my summer activity and from that I thought it would actually be interesting to speak to representatives of the Devon FA, Cornwall FA and the South Western Premier League whilst I was down there. Well, why not? We are all in the same business?
With a few emails, messages and whatsapp’s sent in the week I had a plan so heading down to Penzance on the Friday which was to be my base for the following four days. After a train journey that can only be described as lengthy’ I settled into my digs and got sorted. The Saturday came and The Chairman of Mousehole, a very clued up gentleman by the name of Tim Richardson picked me up and took me to their excellent facility just a mile or two outside of Penzance.
One of the things Development Officers are synonymous with is assisting clubs with initiatives or pointers on where things can be sourced or what can be done in what order to Develop a club. It is slightly different with us at a league compared to a County FA, the County FA’s have specific Development Staff with a wealth of information at hand to assist clubs. This is a feature that some of our clubs may not be aware of, or perhaps don’t use as much as they could.
Because of the proximity of the County the clubs there tend generally to stay in and around the area for games, so sometimes promotion isn’t necessarily taken, clubs there build on being a community facility and representing their Towns and Village with pride. Mousehole do just that with having community days and kids training sessions. I was very impressed with their relationships with the likes of the Football Foundation, Football Stadia Improvement Fund as well as the awareness of some of the various grants available. They have also adapted part of their ground to be in use over the summer months to accommodate campers, all year round use making the best of their facilities.
It's a great club and worth a google if you are not already aware of them via publicity they have achieved over the last year or two. They also extend an invitation to Hallmark Security League Clubs for pre-season friendlies, offering free camping for clubs who want to make the trip!
Having had a great day at Mousehole I then later in the weekend moved further up the County speaking with representatives of both the Devon and Cornwall FA’s. Over some decent Coffee in Truro it was interesting to speak with organisations who face similar organisational challenges to us but with a few twists. The schemes that the County FA’s offer do vary by region but most are bound by the same guidelines from HQ. The needs of the club’s do vary but the work and planning between clubs, leagues and County FA’s are linked in a lot of cases.
It was good to compare notes and it was refreshing to see that a number of our initiatives have been taken note of in distant parts so we must be doing something right.
For us, this next Development Plan is a really important one and some of the main things I took from the trip are the fact that clubs who have an aim and plan ahead taking advantage of every positive scheme can gain lots from it but on the flip side, we, as a League need to continue to inform clubs about our initiatives as well as encouraging clubs to use their relevant County FA Development Officers. Those guys have a mine of information and from a League perspective we are keen to promote what these guys do, what courses are available and for help on grant applications.
We will be looking to build on some of the findings and will be aiming to add some workshops to that effect in our Development Plan this year."
