Over the last 10 days the Kent FA has been shining the spotlight on some of our brilliant volunteers as part of two weeks of celebrations aimed to reward and recruit volunteers.

These articles feature a wealth of information, guidance and advice from some of Kent’s leading volunteers.

Today we hear from two Kent FA staff members, Chief Executive Paul Dolan and Competitions Officer, Matt Dixon.

Paul and Matt are two of twelve members of the Kent FA team that not only support the game as part of their roles with the organisation but support grassroots football on and off the field in volunteer roles.  

What does your role involve?

Paul – I volunteer at an FA Charter Standard Club, Otford United Juniors FC where I coach both the Under-10’s and Under 8 girls.

Matt – I am league secretary at the Thanet Sunday Football League where I oversee the day to day running of the League.

How did you get into volunteering?

Paul – my son and daughter both play at the club and I was delighted to be asked to get involved and coach them.

Matt – Having been Secretary of the Year two years running with my Club side, I was approached by the outgoing Secretary as to whether I’d like to take over, which I jumped at.

Why did you get involved?

Paul – I have always been involved in football and enjoy the thought of volunteering in order to benefit the community.

Matt – I wanted to get Involved and help to improve and maintain the League. I really enjoy the administration side of running a club the chance to run the League was too good to turn down.

Do you have a favourite memory from volunteering?

Paul – Against all odds we managed to set up a girl’s mini-soccer team and having 20 players turn up at the first session when everyone said that girl’s football wouldn’t work in the village.

Matt – I love the period at the end of the season where we are involved in League Cup Finals. To see the winning teams celebrating makes all the hard work throughout the Season worthwhile.

How has volunteering benefitted you?

Paul - It has given me enormous personal satisfaction and helped me immensely in my role as CEO of the Kent FA in understanding the challenges that volunteers face.

Matt – Volunteering with the club and then the league lead to me getting my job with the Kent FA which in turn led to me being promoted to my current role as Competitions Officer.

Why would you encourage others to volunteer in football?

Paul - Volunteering is not only very rewarding but it can also greatly assist with CV embellishment and developing confidence.

Matt - The hard work is totally worth it and very rewarding when you receive good feedback on the work you’ve done or changes you made. The skills learnt through volunteering has aided my CV and my understanding of grassroots football.

What advice would you give to new volunteers?

Paul - Get involved as early as possible. It is a great opportunity to develop both yourself and others.

Matt - Don’t be afraid to put your ideas forward, change can be for the good of the game and when something you implement comes off it is a great feeling.

Get your club and league involved

If you’re a member of a local football club or league, then you’ll know how valuable volunteers are. 

#KentFAThanksU is your chance to celebrate and show your appreciation for those volunteers that make the game in your area possible for so many. We have launched a toolkit full of useful resources so clubs and leagues can make the most of the campaign by clicking here.

For more details

For more details of how your club and league can get involved please email volunteer@kentfa.com. 

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