The FA Charter Standard programme is a kitemark, which recognises and rewards high quality levels of provision in club and league football. The kitemark is awarded to clubs and leagues that are well run, sustainable, which place child protection, quality coaching and safety paramount.

There are three levels of FA Charter Standard Awards for clubs to recognise the different standards. The entry level is an ‘FA Charter Standard Club’, the next level is an ‘FA Charter Standard Development Club’ and the most advanced ‘FA Charter Standard Community Club’. Each advanced level requires additional criteria to be met.

Football Association plans for a radical overhaul of youth football in England are just one step away from becoming reality.

The youth development proposals include a revised player pathway focused on small-sided football – including new 5v5 and 9v9 formats – up to the under 12s age group and a child-friendly approach to competition up to under 11s.

The ambitious plans received the approval of the FA Council earlier this month, leaving just one more hurdle to negotiate – a vote by FA shareholders at the AGM on 28 May – before work can begin on implementing the proposals.

If 75% of FA shareholders approve the rule changes relating to the revised player pathway and new competition formats then they will become mandatory practice, being phased in from the youngest age groups from the 2013/14 season onwards.

The most controversial element of the original proposals – a de-coupling of school and grassroots football age groups to combat the Relative Age Effect – was omitted from the proposals put to FA Council, although the FA will revisit this issue in due course.

For Nick Levett, the FA’s National Development Manager for Youth and Mini Soccer and the man behind the proposals, the AGM vote represents the final hurdle of a two and a half year project featuring extensive research and a nationwide consultation procedure, including over 125 events and engaging over 4,000 parents and coaches.

“I think we’re in a good place,” Levett told Club Website. “I hope that we’ve done enough. This is the next 15 to 20 years of youth football we’re talking about here.”

“[LMA Chairman and author of the FA's 1997 Charter for Quality] Howard Wilkinson stood up at the Council meeting and said that this was the most exciting and aspirational piece of work that he’d seen the FA do in years.

“If he recognises that it’s the right thing to do for the development and support of young players in the game, then we must be on the right track.”

The omission of the Relative Age Effect element of the proposals represents the biggest change to the FA’s final recommendations published in January.

This exclusion, says Levett, was due to “some concerns around it being the right solution, so it was decided it was best not to take that forward.

“That doesn’t mean that it’s off the agenda. It’s still a hugely important thing that we need to address. We can’t pretend it doesn’t exist, but maybe that wasn’t the right solution.”

Levett concedes that, were it down to him, the proposals being put forward to FA stakeholders might look slightly different, but he is happy that they represent the views of the majority of the grassroots community – the very point behind the FA’s extensive consultation.

Whilst the original plans may have been whittled down, the two proposals being put to the vote on 28 May still represent the biggest change to youth football since the introduction of mini soccer in 1999 – and they arguably go way beyond that.

If voted in, for the first time ever children will only begin to play on full size pitches at under 13s level while, for teams up to under 11s, the traditional league format will be replaced by three six-week ‘trophy events’, allowing all teams to play ‘competitive’ football for 18 weeks of a 26 week season, rather than all compete for a single league trophy over an entire season.

Penkridge Junior u12′s v Cannock Town Blues

Our fifth and final game in our medal competition a point away from a semi-final place, which considering the start to our season, well 80% of a season isn’t bad.

Going into the game I was unsure what to expect, playing on a Thursday night and against a team who seemed to have found a new confidence in this competition, but I shouldn’t have worried, the game was pleasure to watch and the best I’ve ever seen my team play, within 3 minutes we were 2 up and this allowed our team to play the way we have trained all season, passing and working it out from the back bringing both left and right backs in and allowing the two centre backs to relax and have time on the ball, the way the game should be played at any level.

Final score 6-1 and again pleasure to watch all the hard work come to fruition, today you should be proud of the way you played :thumbs:

MoM – Joe D
PMoM – TBC

Medal Comp 2 Group D

Sunday 15th April at Cardinal Griffin – 11.10 and 11.50am.  Ecceshall Eagles and Cannock Blues.  If we can all meet at 10.30am please.

Sunday 22nd April, the Premier League (thats us) is at The Monckton. Two games again 10.30 and 11.10am Brewood and Stafford.

Sunday 29th April FREE WEEK

Sunday 6th May 2012 At Rowley Park this time.  11.10 and 11.50 am, Milford Villains and Milford wanderers.

Thats all we have got so far, look forward to seeing you all

Coach (x 3)

Penkridge Junior u12′s v Burntwood Dragons Green

Our fourth game and true to form made it more difficult than it should have been. We lost 3-0 to Burntwood the last time we met so I spoke to the boys before the game about making a fast positive start, and not giving them the confidence to build on, but whether it was the clocks moving forward or it being an unusually warm day for the end of March both teams seemed to be quite lethargic, we did create a few chances but the further we went into the half, the further back we were playing with big gaps between defence and midfield, where in previous weeks we’d been using this space to our advantage. From what I think was possibly their first corner Burntwood took the lead with the ball going straight into the top right hand corner of the net, and this was possibly only the second time Dan had touched the ball. We played the half out still creating chances but went into half time 0-1 down.

Again spoke about increasing the tempo and playing the way we have over the last couple of weeks, the second half began much the same as we’d ended the first, creating but not quite finding the finish, however mid way into the second half Burntwood broke through the middle, playing it out wide and if not for Dan making a double save at the near post we could have gone 0-2 down, from this Penkridge did seem to up their game and created a couple of further chances with what seemed to be a certain penalty as the goalkeeper came out with both feet straight through the Penkridge player, not to be, but Penkridge kept attacking and their reward eventually came with Jack P firing home to level the game. Penkridge pushed further and with Dan making a couple more excellent saves the game ended 1-1. A little flat today both players and support but I’ll put it down to the weather.

Final game will be against Cannock Town Blues, who like us seem to have found confidence in this competition and will be challenging us for the semi-final spot.

MoM – Dan
PMoM – Matt

Medal Comp 2 Group D

Sean and Alan

What team do you support?
Manchester united, Come on you reds!!!

Liverpool, My grandad used to support these and got me into football as a young little boy (sorry)

Do you have a nickname?
The King because my last name is Tudor!!

the most used nickname used for me is Wrighty both at school and at work

What hobbies (outside of Football)?If you have the time
I like to Sing & play the guitar as part of my other hobbies, I also like doing some bootcamp on a Saturday morning to keep me fit and some running throughout the week

would have to say PS3 here not much time after football scouts cubs beavers etc

Taste in music?
Pop, Singer/Songwriter & R&B.

anything really whatever takes my mood can be some soft classical then can be some heavy rock but do like Coldplay

Favourite Movie?
The Expendables and Fast 5.

i am torn here between the matrix and back to the future sorry but cant pick between either

Favourite Food?
Indian, Mac Donalds, pizza.

it has to be the meat feast pizza from pizza hut every time

Favourite place on earth?
Home

was going to be really sad and put Penkridge but not really got a favourite place. somewhere hot i suppose

If you could have dinner/lunch with three people who would it be?
Real/fiction dead/alive

My Mom, My Girlfriend and Freddy Starr lol

very random but here goes, Hulk Hogan the wrestler, Micheal Knight from knight rider not the Hoff himself, Peter Kay bet hes a right laugh

What is the best advice you’ve ever given or received?
What you put into life you get out.

be happy, tomorrow is another day

If you had to pick one place in Penkridge to take a tourist, where would you go?

Flames

this would have to be Jasper’s there bread and sandwiches are so good

If you could speak any language, what would it be and why?
Indian of course would make it so easy to order our takeaways

If you lived in America in the pioneer days, would you have traveled west or stayed put in the east?
I would have stayed put in the east.).

I would have gone west for the adventure and something new

If you could be a cartoon character, who would you want to be?
Daffy Duck

Fred Flintstone life looked so much easier but Steph says I’m like Homer Simpson

If you could be a super hero, who would you want to be?
Super Man

Batman no reason apart from the car i think

If you had to evacuate your house immediately, what is the one thing you would grab on the way out?
My HD TV

Not 100% sure but I’m thinking of the PS3 again all the saved games sad i know.

Cheers guys,

Berkswich Hawks v Penkridge Junior u12′s

Our third game in the u12′s medal competition saw us pitched against Berkswich Hawks, familiar opponents who’d moved across to the Lichfield League from Mid Staffs at the start of the season. We couldn’t have asked for a better start with Penkridge opening the scoring within 13seconds, Joe N did all the hard work, controlling the bouncing ball on a very hard pitch, with a strike on goal, for it to rebound off the keeper and Jack P following up to drive the ball home. Our Second came from a free kick just over the half way line, Elliot fired the ball in, Matt jumped up to head, for the ball to outpace him and the goalkeeper and end up in the back of the net, with Penkridge dominating our third came from slick passing through the midfield, with Marcus finishing by putting the ball in the net.

Penkridge having dominated for the first 15 minutes, the next half hour belonged to Berkswich who had regrouped and either side of half time were the better team, breaking up our play and scoring two well deserved goals.

3-2 with 15minutes to go, to be fair at this stage the game could have gone either way, but Penkridge took the advantage with about 5minutes to go, again another good run from Joe for the strike to either come of the goalkeeper or post (sorry missed it) and again Jack following up drove the ball home,

Final score 2 – 4, the medal group is now ours to lose with our next game against Burntwood Dragons Green, having lost to them already this season this will be a stern test.

MoM – Elliot
PMoM – Marcus

Medal Comp 2 Group D

Sunday 11th March – CARDINAL GRIFFIN School in Cannock.  Ist game 10.30am against Eccleshall Eagles and 2nd Game 11.50 against Stafford town.   Griffin school is just down from Cannock Leisure Centre if you haven’t been before, loads of parking at the front of the school and just follow the path round to the right as you go in the front gates to the playing fields at the rear.  If you all can be there for 10am cheers.

Sunday 18th March -  2 games at Rowley Park.  1st game at 10.30am v Stafford Town Panthers and 2nd game 11.10 v Stafford Town Pythons.  I know its MOTHERS DAY so if you can let me know ASAP if you can’t make it.  I know already we have lost our Goalie for today as he is competing in the Tae Kwon Do English Championships, come on George I hope you bring back a Gold Medal.

Sunday 25th March and Sunday 1st April are FREE WEEKS.

Thats all I’ve got, more when I get it – ‘watch this space’.  Cheers your 3 coaches

Penkridge Junior u12′s v SportsCo Harriers

Our second game in the u12′s medal competition was against SportsCo from the 4th division on a very cold Sunday afternoon, didn’t envy anyone who played in the morning rain.

Penkridge kicked off, looking as though they hadn’t yet woken up, lost the ball from the kick, with SportsCo almost walking the ball home within 30seconds, was it going to be one of those days AGAIN! really this should have been the wake up call but a minute later same thing happened lost the ball in the midfield with a couple of SportsCo players driving forward and the defence unable to cope resulted in us going 1-0 down within 2minutes. This was the wake up call, the midfield were starting to dominate with a well placed through ball, splitting their defence and Joe running on to it taking it round the keeper for him to see it hit the post – have lost count how many times we’ve hit that 6inch diameter white obstacle this season, even in training on Tuesday we had a game against Athletic and hit it 12times – fortunately George had followed in from the wing and casually knocked home our opener.

The midfield were now working hard and a sense of believe was coming from the rest of the team, pushing SportsCo further and further back resulting in our first corner. Jack delivered it perfect, HandBall! No! What! Confusion! the ref blew for a goal – I missed it too busy shouting for the penalty – straight in, he’s been close on four or five this season so no fluke. Working on defensive heading in training, we were lacking the desire to attack the ball, so was pretty surprised to see our centre back Matt nod home the third from another corner. SportsCo seemed to bounce back from this one and created a few chances with them firing over the bar from a close range shot, but from the resulting goal kick we broke down the right with George taking a shot on goal for it to deflect past the keeper making it 4-1. From kickoff SportsCo had regrouped and with a couple of passes and a miss kicked clearance found one of their players at the back post putting it home to make it 4-2 going into half time.

Second half we seemed to have most of the possession but not being productive, this allowed SportsCo to find new confidence, if not for Josh with some brave keeping it could have easily be level at 4-4, Sportsco did take the advantage, braking down the left with their player coolly slotting it past our on rushing goalkeeper. From kickoff though Penkridge started to play again and shortly after, a resulting corner saw Marcus attacking the ball, heading home from another well taken corner. Something must have stuck at training even though you wouldn’t have thought so if you’d been there on Saturday. They left the best till last, from kickoff, George took the ball from a SportsCo player, dribbled round their midfielders played it out wide left to Alex who had a quick one-two with Jack, then crossed the ball for Marcus to volley it into the back of the net. This rounded off another good performance from Penkridge final score 6-3

MoM – Marcus Bazzi
PMoM – Jack Pope

Second half started the same with Penkridge moving the ball well, James came back on at half time on the left and after a minute or so found himself at the back post with the ball at his feet from the corner which he poked home for our second. Lichfield were still creating chances but to the credit of our defence and goalkeeper kept them at bay. Third goal came again from a corner, this time Alex at the back post firing home. Then with about 5minutes to go Lichfield took a long throw into our box only for Elliot to tangle legs with one of their players, PENALTY, Josh stood big and dived to his right, pushed it out, what a save, only for our players still to be watching and Lichfield first to the ball hit it again this time an even better save pushing it up onto the crossbar, absolute quality credit to Josh, but having practised penalties the day before Penkridge were fortunate to get away with us not following in to clear up,

Lichfield to their credit didn’t give up and had 3 or 4 corners in the last few minutes to end the game in the same nervy way in which it began, but final whistle and it ended 3-0 to Penkridge, well done lads you’ve deserved this one, still a lot to  do and far to many goal line scrambles but a wins a wins

MoM – George Powell

PMoM – Josh Humpries