This week (3 to 9 June) is Volunteers' Week 2024.

Volunteers' Week is a time to say thank you to the millions of people across England who make football possible, and to recognise the fantastic contribution they make.

Each day during the week, we will be highlighting some of the great volunteers from Amateur FA football. Find out more about them below from members of their own clubs or organisations.

To find out more about Volunteers' Week, click here.

Iain Evans, Merton FC



Iain enables 100 or so adults to be able to play football each weekend. He organises the squads from the availability pool. Midweek pitch inspections, early morning trips to the pitches to hoover up puddles, runs the bar if people stay late and sorts out fixtures out. Most recently he had the challenge of getting the facilities fixed which is no mean feat when the local council own the premises. 

Iain doesn’t ask for anything in return. He’s more than happy to do all of these things for no ask of reward or gain. He is a great person and truly deserving of recognition.

Paola Bailey-Gunputh, Olympia Infinity FC



Paola is one of the biggest influences in the club. She comes and support the team in any condition and regardless of the distance. She will always turn up as she knows the team look up to her for anything such as support and all. She does everything for the club from finance to washing the kit every week to ensuring every player can play. She is our "mummy" and without her lots of things won't get done.

Paola is a mother herself, and she gives up her time to help the community and club grow. The most amazing thing is when she combines the two duties together and show us that everything is possible. Her commitment to the club and community is unbelievable and deserve to be recognised.

James Trott, Globe Rangers FC

James has been with Globe Rangers for 15 years, and always shows commitment and dedication.

James has a positive attitude, and is always there to support and encourage players. He is a genuine and sincere person who is a great asset to his club. 

Steve Rawlinson, Amateur Football Combination

Steve's innovative contributions over the past several years have revolutionized the administrative landscape for local County FAs and Competitions. Through his creation of an online-based administration system, Ref Sec he has provided a transformative solution to referee administration.

His proactive engagement with stakeholders demonstrates his commitment to ongoing improvement, evidenced by his efforts to reduce volunteer workload and enhance system functionality. 

Steve's visionary leadership, dedication to excellence, and commitment to continuous improvement make him a deserving candidate for recognition, exemplifying his proactive contributions to football administration and helping the football volunteer community.

Mark Freedman, Southern Amateur League & Referee



Mark is the Referee Secretary for the Southern Amateur Football League, and is actively involved in helping to develop Amateur FA referees. He volunteers his time as a Referee Observer, Referee Match Day Coach and Referee Mentor.

Mark also acts as a County FA Commission Member and Amateur FA Council Member, and is involved with his local grassroots club, Norsemen FC. 

Thank you to all our volunteers who make our football what it is!

To find out more about volunteering and how you can get involved, click here.

Find out how you can receive bespoke rewards from England Football for volunteering. Visit their volunteers page here.