Club spirit and friendliness are the key factors for London Club of the Year

Woodford Green AC with Essex Ladies (WGEL) won London Region Club of the year at our recent volunteer awards. We spoke to the club secretary David Hollingworth and a number of other club representatives during the awards evening – to find out more about the club and what makes it so great.

As with all nominated clubs, WGEL has achieved all 7 Club Standards. David explained,

“It's important to have good standards to ensure the appropriate governance of the club and the correct positions filled. The most difficult club standard to meet was probably around the getting all the coaches to be up to date and removing ones that no longer coach anymore from our database.”

Amazing club volunteers

The club are very proud of all their volunteers. Two present at the awards evening were Volunteer Coordinator Karen Higgs-Smith and her husband Simon - both came in through the parent volunteering route.

“One of my daughters saw pole vault at an NAL that we were hosting and asked for it to start at the club."

Karen had been at the club for many years but took on fundraising for pole vault facilities and equipment.

“So I said that I would do a pole vault competition which I run at Lee Valley - Vault London. The funds from that go towards new equipment.”

“Maybe I did too good of a job doing that that - I now do the home fixtures as well!”

David added, “Karen now organises our graded meetings but also our home fixtures. So we provide competition both for our athletes and for the wider community and can raise money through the graded meetings.”

A supportive environment

Coach Keith Newton joined the club as a long jumper at 19 - after finishing school - and has been in the club 36 years now.

“The very first thing that I noticed when I joined was that it was such a friendly club. I was an active athlete as we progressed from Division 4 to Division 1 and now I am a masters athlete and the senior women’s team manager.”

“We called on a number of the juniors to come into our national league team. Now looking at the strength in depth in the YDL teams, I hope that's going to paint a good picture for us going forwards.”

Keeping teenagers involved

Keith had said earlier in the day he was a teenager who stayed, and now the club keeps their teenagers involved by getting them to coach the younger kids. For example:

“As a youngster one of our athletes, Aiden, came from cross country and middle distance on the track. He now helps with the WASPS (U11s), and after that session he goes on to do his own training session. As he’s moved up the age groups he helps coach the under 13s and the under 15s endurance groups”

An amazing club spirit

What resonates through the club’s video and talking to its members is that their club spirit is amazing – right through the ages. The club has a wide net for schools, both state and independent, and adults up to age 80.

“Tuesday club night has a combination of juniors and seniors training on the track, with their coaches. After training many come into the clubhouse and mix and socialise.”

David concluded by saying that this community spirit really shone through at the recent National League finals where they missed second place by just two points.

“We got an email from the chairman of Rugby and Northampton AC praising the sporting attitude of our young athletes. “

Off their own back the youngsters had formed a guard of honour and applauded the winners as they went up to get their trophies.

“I was so proud to hear that - and Karen messaged all the parents to say that they should be extremely proud of their children because it's a fantastic attitude to have.”

The club should be proud indeed of all that they have achieved and we wish them the best for the National Club of the Year shortlisting!

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