Minster League hits the Standard

The York Minster Engineering Football League, with the support of the North Riding County FA, has become the first league within the county to achieve the prestigious FA Charter Standard League award.

The adult league from York, which was established in 1897, has worked closely with NRCFA staff over the last 12 months and has now been rewarded for the many hours the Management Committee and Clubs have dedicated to receiving this recognition.

Over 70 per cent of clubs who play in the league have now achieved FA Charter Standard club status and the league was the first in the county to sign up to and implement The FA Respect Programme. Each club has adopted Codes of Conduct and purchased Respect spectator barriers with financial support from the league and the County FA. 

A development plan has been written with the main aim being to add an extra division and ten new teams over the next three years.

Four members of the Committee were present at the NRCFA Awards Evening held at Middlesbrough FC’s Riverside Stadium prior to their opening league game of the 2009-10 season against Sheffield United, to receive a crystal award and certificate from The FA on behalf of the league.

Peter Gibson, the league’s Honorary League Secretary, who played an instrumental role in supporting his member clubs said: "The Committee and the Clubs have all contributed towards gaining Charter Standard. The League is proud to be the first Charter Standard League in North Riding and we would like to thank the officers and members of the County FA for guiding us to this achievement.”

The North Riding County FA, with assistance from their colleagues at East and West Riding County FA’s, has purchased a new first aid kit for each team within the league ahead of the new season as a further reward.