Staffordshire Football Association has announced a new strategic partnership with Staffordshire University.
It will see the two organisations working together on objectives to enhance local grassroots football across Staffordshire and support with the recruitment and enrichment of students at the university.
The Association and University have enjoyed a long-standing informal relationship over many years and the development of this formal partnership will see Staffordshire University become the Principal Partner of Staffordshire FA.
Included within the collaborative work will be a strong focus on enhancing the ongoing development of the grassroots football workforce, in particular coaches and match officials, who are both pivotal to the grassroots game.
Staffordshire FA are continually developing innovative ideas to support with the recruitment and development of coaches and match officials, and the partnership with the university will enhance the aims and objectives the Association are focusing on in its new 2024-2028 strategy.
Gareth Thomas, Commercial & Partnerships Lead at Staffordshire FA said: “We are delighted to have developed this partnership with Staffordshire University, which has the potential to positively impact on so many different areas, for both Staffordshire FA and the University.
“Staffordshire FA and Staffordshire University are both embedded in the heart of communities across the county, both very proud of all things Staffordshire and the positive impacts we can respectively make to the lives of people living and studying in Staffordshire.
Dr Alex Blackett, Head of Sport & Science at Staffordshire University, said: “We want to support Staffordshire FA to engage everyone in the county in football, whether as a player, coach, referee, or club member.
“Through the partnership we want to be actively involved in enhancing CPD, trialling new technologies and ways of learning, not just with our current and future students, but also everyone affiliated to football in Staffordshire.
“In doing so, we want to be inclusive in our approach to make the game accessible for everyone and we’re incredibly pleased to be partnering with a like-minded and aspirational organisation such as Staffordshire FA.”
As part of the partnership, Staffordshire University will also become the headline partner for the four Staffordshire FA Youth County Cup Competitions – the U15’s, U16’s, U17/18’s, and Midweek Floodlit competitions.
