Norfolk FA achieves The FA's Code of Governance
NORFOLK FA
ACHIEVES THE FA’S CODE OF GOVERNANCE
Norfolk FA has achieved The FA’s Code of Governance for County Football Associations.
Norfolk FA evidenced full compliance with the regional Code of Governance which sets a higher precedent than the current gold standard for sport and aims to provide support and guidance to those running the grassroots game up and down the country.
In January 2020, The FA became the first national governing body in English sport to introduce a regional Code of Governance, with a number of other sports now following the model which has been endorsed by Sport England. The Code itself represents a ‘Gold Standard’ of governance, made up of 65 requirements based on Sport England and UK Sport’s Code for Sports Governance.
The requirements within the code means each County FA can assess their current practices against the highest standard of corporate governance in football, supporting their development and ensuring they have the structures, functional operations and decision-making processes in place to offer the best possible service to the game at a local level. The code also includes provisions for gender diversity, ethnic diversity and youth representation across the County FA network.
All 50 CFAs have self-assessed against the Code and are committed to improving their governance, with Norfolk FA becoming the latest to be awarded with the County FA Code of Compliance logo, which can be used on County FA external and internal communications channels.
Matt Carpenter, CEO at Norfolk FA said: “We are delighted to be awarded with The FA’s Code of Governance after working hard to achieve the standard. The Code ensures that as a business, we operate at the highest level allowing us to best serve the grassroots game locally.
“Good governance is at the centre of effective organisations and the Code of Governance has certainly enabled us to review our current practices, implement new processes and provide transparency and accountability to our members. Being one of the first County FAs in the Country to be presented with the plaque is testament to both our Board of Directors as well as our dedicated staff, who have been instrumental in achieving the Code.”
Tim Foster, Head of Operations at The FA said: “It was a great privilege to visit Norfolk FA this morning and look around their impressive football facility in Norwich, as well as their new eco-Headquarters. The changes since I was last there are amazing, with the opening of Harrod Sport Arena earlier this year, which is allowing thousands more people year-round access to grassroots football.
“The FA’s Code of Governance sets out how County FAs can embed gold standards of governance at a local level and ultimately deliver an even better service to their communities. I’d like to congratulate Norfolk on achieving The FA’s Code of Governance and I am excited to see the continuing good work they carry out in the future.”
For further information on the Code of Governance for County FAs, please see here.