SUFFOLK FA and BSC Multicultural Services (BSCMS) have been shortlisted for a national award by the English FA.

The two organisations have been working together for many years now. This has culminated in their joint Playmaker Course (face to face), which is one of four finalists in the Coach Development category for 2023.

The winners will be announced at an Awards Ceremony at Wembley Stadium on Thursday, November 23rd.  Staff and Trustees from both organisations will be attending the ceremony.

A record 242 submissions were received across 12 categories 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 FA Playmaker Course is a free entry-level football course aimed at anyone taking a more active role in grassroots football but is only available online.  

Suffolk FA & BSC Multicultural Services worked together to plan and deliver a Just Play sessions on Sundays in Ipswich. Based on positive feedback from participants, the first ever face-to-face Playmaker Course was then planned and delivered, which was a national pilot programme.

A discussion between coaches (above) takes place during the FA Playmaker Course. Main photograph: FA Regional Coach Development Officer (D&I) Nimesh Patel (centre) delivering the course at Goals in Ipswich.

Nimesh Patel, FA Regional Coach Development Officer (D&I), delivered the course at Goals in Ipswich. Suffolk FA Football Development Officer, Kirsty Smith, worked closely with Mohammed Alam of BSCMS, with input from Ruth Ward of Suffolk FA.

Kirsty said: “We are delighted to have been nominated for a National CFA award. Over the last few years, the relationship between SFA & BSCMS has grown significantly and it’s great to see all the hard work put in by everyone has been recognised.”

Mohammed Alam said: “This was an important project for us and we are looking at continuing this work, whilst also discussing new ideas with Suffolk FA about how else we can use football to have a positive impact on people’s lives and upskill people from under-represented backgrounds and communities.”

Suffolk FA Chief Executive, Richard Neal, said: “By being able to deliver this course face-to-face, in partnership with the brilliant BSC Multicultural Services, we have been able to reach people who would otherwise not have been able to take the course, and in turn pass on their learnings to others. I’m proud of the work already undertaken with this project, and hope it will open up more opportunities for others in the future.”

FA’s Head of Operations for Grassroots Football, Tim Foster, added: “I’d like to congratulate Suffolk FA and BSCMS in making the final shortlist for the Coach Development and all of the other shortlisted County FAs in what has been a record-breaking number of submissions this year.”

Boshor Ali, Chair of BSCMS, added: “We are delighted to have been shortlisted for this prestigious award and we look forward to visiting Wembley Stadium in November for the award ceremony. I want to thank everyone involved with BSCMS and Suffolk FA on their achievement.”