Ballinhassig AFC is delighted to announce that the club has achieved the FAI Club Mark Entry Level Award.

The FAI Club Mark is a club accreditation programme based on best practice in the governance, management and administration of grassroots football clubs. Entry Level is the first tier of the programme, followed by the One Star and Two Star awards. The programme is designed to help clubs put strong structures, policies and procedures in place, both on and off the pitch.

Achieving this accreditation is an important milestone for Ballinhassig AFC and provides recognition of the considerable work taking place behind the scenes to ensure that our club is managed responsibly, safely and to a high standard.

The process required the club to demonstrate that appropriate governance structures, policies and administrative procedures are in place. It also involved reviewing and updating our records to ensure that coaches and volunteers working with children and vulnerable adults have completed the required Garda vetting and safeguarding training.

We would particularly like to thank Marie O’Leary, who coordinated the Club Mark application and devoted a considerable amount of time and effort to guiding the club through the process and ensuring that all the necessary requirements were completed.

We also sincerely thank all our coaches, volunteers, committee members and club officers for supporting the initiative. Their cooperation in completing safeguarding courses, Garda vetting, coaching qualifications and the necessary club documentation was essential in helping Ballinhassig AFC achieve the award.

The FAI describes Club Mark as providing grassroots clubs with a structure for success, reassuring players and families that they are joining a club committed to doing things properly, and recognising the volunteers whose work keeps clubs running.

Receiving the Entry Level Award is not simply about obtaining a badge or certificate. It reflects our commitment to maintaining high standards of governance, safeguarding, administration and volunteer management as Ballinhassig AFC continues to grow.

The club must now continue to operate in accordance with the policies and procedures it has adopted and maintain these standards through the FAI revalidation process. Our next opportunity for progression will be the FAI Club Mark One Star Award, which places an increased focus on player and coach development.

This is another proud achievement for Ballinhassig AFC and a reflection of the tremendous work carried out by so many people throughout the club.