Vallance FC pick up prize at London FA Community event

Tower Hamlets club Vallance FC has been honoured as the 2015 FA Charter Standard Development Club of the Year at the London County FA Community Awards, presented by McDonald’s.

Taking place at the legendary home of English football itself, Wembley Stadium, the ceremony celebrated winners throughout the county with a total of six winners collecting awards.

The event was attended by an esteemed crowd, including former Tottenham and England player Gary Mabbutt, and Vallance FC picked up their award thanks to their ongoing commitment to football in their local area.

Formally established in 1997, Vallance FC have existed in the Vallance Road area for many years, but suffered from a lack of facilities and funding.

The team survived and their current success is testament to the hard work put in by Junel Uddin and, later, Iqbal Hussain.

Starting off with just one team, the success of the club led to huge investments from local businesses and as a result Vallance FC became the first team in Tower Hamlets to tour Holland in 2001.

To date, the club has become one of the most successful in Tower Hamlets, with 10 teams competing in regional leagues, 800 members in its academy and over 1,200 young people accessing its services at local level.

The club’s work goes beyond football and reaches out to some of the most hard to reach members in the community.

It works with young organisations, local council and schools to make sport education and training accessible to all.

Now in their sixth year, The FA Community Awards presented by McDonald’s, recognise and celebrate the grassroots volunteers, clubs and leagues in counties across England, who dedicate their time to grassroots football in their local community.

McDonald’s Director of Football Sir Geoff Hurst said: “The FA Community Awards are a fantastic way of recognising true grassroots heroes such as Vallance FC. The work that goes into providing football for hundreds of kids every week should not be underestimated and these awards are richly deserved.”

McDonald’s franchisee Terry Eagles, a keen supporter of grassroots football in London, added: “Football in England simply wouldn’t be the same without the volunteers who put in so much time and effort. These type of people are vital to their local club and communities. I want to congratulate everyone who collected an award.”