Trio’s council call (From Worcester News)

Trio’s council call

11:00am Thursday 26th January 2012 in News By Steve Carley, @stevecarleyWN #WENsport

THREE talented youngsters from Worcestershire have been selected to join the Football Association National Youth Council.

Ted Grizzell, Lauren Whiteman and Doug Howie are among 12 people aged between 17 and 24 invited by the game’s governing body to form the group.

The council has been set up to provide children and young adults with a voice within the sport, raise standards and keep youngsters playing football, while also finding the coaches, referees and administrators of the future.

The Worcestershire trio were asked to apply after impressing on the FA Football Futures Leadership Camp, which encourages youngsters to volunteer at county level.

Grizzell, who is a referee and plays for Malvern-based Anchor Falcons in the Worcester Sunday League Division Two, will be the group’s head of projects.

The 22-year-old has worked his way up through the FA ranks in the county and is now a full-time skills coach in Birmingham.

Grizzell, who also runs ZigZag Coaching for children in Worcestershire, said: “I am really excited to be part of it and I am chuffed to have been asked, it’s a huge accolade.

“I am pleased for myself and everyone else.

“The fact we have got three people representing the county is great credit to the programme that runs through (football development officer) Matt Jones at the Worcestershire FA.”

He added: “We are giving a voice for children and young people.

“It seems that they have been told what to think and not being listened to as much as they could be.

“Now we have got people who can give first-hand experience and take on the views of their peers to get the message across.”

Whiteman, aged 17, has been selected as part of the management team to run the leadership camps.

Howie, 20, now a student a Loughborough University after cutting his teeth with the Worcestershire FA, is head of finance.

The trio’s inclusion is a feather in the cap for the county FA.

Jones said: “Without doubt, the FA has elected three talented individuals onto the FA National Youth Council.

“This is an outstanding achievement for the trio from Worcestershire.

“The feat is purely down to them, their application, attitude and hard work.”