ALEX Shipp has become the first member from Suffolk to be appointed to a role on The FA National Youth Council.

The 18-year-old, who lives near Ipswich, has been appointed as an Engagement Officer for the South.

Alex (pictured above) is marketing officer for the Suffolk FA Youth Council sponsored by Richard Bugg Trading Ltd and the Suffolk Youth League (SYFL) and is also a Level 7 referee.

He joined the Suffolk Youth Council at the start of the 2017-18 season and has gone from strength-to-strength. He recently attended The FA Leadership Academy at St Georges Park which is a selection of the best young leaders from around the country. He also has a place on CORE which is the young refereeing development programme.

Alex said: “I’m delighted to be selected to join the FA National Youth Council. The season ahead will be difficult, but I’m excited to step up to the challenge.

“I’m also looking forward to working closely with the different counties in the south to try to further the Youth Council network.

“I couldn’t have got here without the great support of Suffolk FA which runs all the way from our Youth Council, to the staff and to the board.”

Suffolk FA Youth Council Co-ordinator James Morley, who is also the county’s Mini-Soccer & Youth Football Development Officer, said: “Ever since Alex joined the Suffolk Youth Council he has shown a great drive and attitude to want to improve not only himself but those around him.

“He has been at the forefront of the work the Youth Council have been working to accomplish and working closely with the other members and SFA staff.

“Alex has also been at the front of the line to assist Suffolk FA on some of our biggest events of the season, such as County Cup Finals at Portman Road and the KBB Grassroots Festival.

“This is a great accomplishment for Alex and to be the first Suffolk FA member to achieve it is a great string to his bow and shows the development the Suffolk Youth Council has shown over the past couple of seasons, following the achievements of previous members.

“We are looking forward to seeing Alex’s continual development and the work he will be completing as a National Youth Council member.”

Suffolk FA Chief Executive Richard Neal added: “I’m absolutely delighted Alex has been selected to join The FA Youth Council; the first time Suffolk have had a representative selected to join this national group.

“Alex already contributes so much to local football. He brings energy, ideas and leadership to the Suffolk FA Youth Council, supports the marketing and communications of the Suffolk Youth Football League, and is a talented young official who has been selected to join The FA Centre of Refereeing Excellence (CORE) programme for this season.

“Most importantly of all, Alex is a thoroughly decent, honourable, and classy young man who will bring an understanding of the local game to this national stage. We wish him all the very best, and look forward to more young people from Suffolk following in his footsteps in the future.”

If you would like more information on the Suffolk FA Youth Council, including becoming a member, please contact Suffolk FA Mini-Soccer & Youth Football Development Officer James Morley on 01449 616606 or 07976 957094 or james.morley@suffolkfa.com