In 2005, the committee of the senior Great Bentley Football Club had a vision: to create a youth division that would allow children in the village to play football and eventually progress into the senior Border League teams. On Sunday, 4th September 2005, we held our very first training session, attended by around 20 children. With only a few footballs, bibs, cones, and borrowed goals from the Methodist Church (to whom we are very grateful), we embarked on this exciting journey. By the end of the first year, we had partnered with the Essex FA to achieve Charter Standard Accreditation, developed a 3-year business and development plan, and secured financial support from the Football Foundation. To celebrate, players from Ipswich Town joined us during a training session to present a cheque.

Since then, we have continued to uphold the high standards established at our inception, staying true to our ethos and objectives. Our commitment to excellence was recognized when we were awarded Essex FA Charter Standard Club of the Year in 2006, followed by the FA Charter Development Club Accreditation. We are proud of our fully inclusive policy, welcoming all children aged 6 to 18 (from school year 1 to college), regardless of ability. The only restriction is the availability of places, as we work towards ensuring all coaches obtain FA Coaching qualifications.

Although Great Bentley Youth FC operates under the larger umbrella of Great Bentley Football Club (GBFC), we maintain our own independent committee, club rules, and constitution, as required by the Football Association for affiliated member clubs.

 We are always happy to welcome new players, so feel free to join one of our training sessions or email us for more information.

FA Charter Standard Development Club

Great Bentley Youth FC has always been committed to maintaining and continuously improving the high standards we set for ourselves both on and off the field. From the beginning, the club was established with a focus on sustained growth and development, adhering to the guidelines set by The Football Association (FA). A significant milestone was achieved just four months after the club’s formation, in January 2006, when we were awarded the FA Charter Standard. This accomplishment was a key objective for everyone involved in founding the club, as we believed it would provide the foundation for how the club would be managed.

But we didn’t stop there. In 2009, the committee set its sights on the next level of recognition: The FA Charter Standard Development Club accreditation. This required further investment in our coaching staff, helping them attain FA Level 2 accreditation, expanding our committee to include vital roles like Child Welfare Officer, and strengthening relationships with local schools. These initiatives were outlined in our development plan, which has continued to evolve since the club’s inception.

As a result of these efforts, on January 29th, 2010, we were notified by Essex FA that we had met the criteria to achieve this prestigious accreditation, becoming one of only 17 clubs in Essex to do so (for more information, please see the Essex FA website). A special thanks goes to Scott Young, who led this initiative, and to Ian Bent, Essex County FA Club Development Officer, for his guidance and support.

Our journey doesn’t end here. We will continue to assess, adapt, and enhance the way we operate as a club, always striving to improve in every possible way.

For more information regarding the FA Charter Standard, please click here.