Richmond Rockets Junior Football Club has become a youth charter standard club.
Charter Standard status demonstrates that a club is well-run and provides sustainable football while prioritising qualified coaching, safeguarding and respect.
Richmond Rockets were launched in June by Pete and Mandy Bogojevic.
Club secretary Mandy Bogojevic said: “Richmond Rockets Junior Football Club was created out of our passion for grassroots football.
“Our idea was to set up a club with a positive and supportive ethos, with the children at the centre of everything we do.
“We welcome girls and boys of all abilities to come and play football with us in a safe, friendly and enjoyable environment, where they are provided with age appropriate coaching to support their long-term development.
“Equal playing time is something we strongly believe in and this is how we operate during our matches.”
Mandy said that setting up a new club from nothing has been very busy yet exciting.
“We successfully applied for start-up funding from the FA and the Hambleton and Richmondshire Junior Football League, we held an open day in June this year and have been playing football ever since.
“We try to keep costs to parents at a minimum so are very grateful to Angus Morton Butchers and Specsavers for sponsoring our kits this season.
“A big thank you also to Trinity Academy Richmond for allowing us to train on their school field.
“As well as amazing young people, we also have some very supportive parents with whom we have formed a friendly committee to help run the club.
“We also have several parents who are currently going through the process of becoming coaches. At the moment, we are running a combined U7s/U8s team and are looking for more girls and boys to join us.
“We are also welcoming children currently in Year 1 to form a younger team in the very near future.”
David Williams, chairman of the Hambleton & Richmondshire Junior Football league, added: “It has been a great pleasure and privilege over the last few months to work with Pete and Mandy and see a whole new club created.
“They have done very well, with the support and guidance of NRCFA, to achieve Charter Standard status in such a short time.
“Richmond Rocket fully embrace the ethos of the Hambleton & Richmondshire Junior Football League and the FA over development football. Football should be fun. Our league shortly moves indoors to Richmond School to play futsal until February and I am sure this will suit the lively squad which comprise Richmond Rockets.”
