West Riding FA has been successfully shortlisted for the Football Development Award at the County FA Recognition Awards 2024 for its Good Mood League.

The Awards, which will be announced at Wembley Stadium connected by EE on Thursday 7 November 2024, recognise and endorse the best projects, products and services delivered by County FAs over the past season while sharing best practice and learnings from around the country.

Over 225 nominations have been entered from the 50 County FAs operating across England, highlighting exceptional delivery and showcasing how they are innovating to improve grassroots football and increase participation across all levels of the game. 

The twelve categories which will be recognised at the awards are: 

• Brand Engagement
• Coach Development
• Employee Wellbeing & Engagement
• Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
• Facility Development
• Football Development
• Partnership
• Positive Football Environment
• Referee Development
• Special recognition
• Women & Girls
• Youth Engagement

The Good Mood League addresses barriers to participation for individuals with ill mental health, providing a safe and fun environment for individuals to play and socialise. The project was established alongside the South West Yorkshire NHS Partnership Foundation Trust (SWYT) and their linked charity, Creative Minds, providing regular playing opportunities for individuals as well as the upskilling of staff and service users, supporting the league.

Hannah Simpson, CEO West Riding FA said: "We are delighted to be nominated for the Football Development Award this year.  The Good Mood League is a great example of using the power of football to promote mental health and well-being.  It also showcases the importance of working alongside other non-traditional football partners to develop football opportunities for individuals. We are proud to support and develop this kind of activity and can already see the growth potential of the league”

The FA’s Head of Operations for Grassroots Football, Tim Foster added: 

“I’d like to congratulate West Riding FA in making the final shortlist for the Football Development Award. We’ve had some outstanding submissions this year, once again highlighting the crucial role County FAs play in their local communities, ensuring accessible opportunities across all football formats and creating a fun and safe environment for all.

“We look forward to celebrating the achievements of our County FAs at Wembley Stadium on November 7th and thanking everyone involved for their efforts across the season.”