About us
Dunmow United Football Club was established in 2004 to provide junior football to the youth of Great Dunmow and surrounding areas. We are a non-profit, membership based organisation with an active Committee developing the club for the benefits of our members. We aim to be the football club of choice in the Uttlesford district, providing the highest standards of football education and a positive environment for all young people.
Please note: Laundry Lane is a no smoking site, no dogs are allowed and parking is to be within the ground at all times.
Please note: Laundry Lane is a no smoking site, no dogs are allowed and parking is to be within the ground at all times.
Our vision / objectives
Our Vision:
“To be the football club of choice in the Uttlesford district providing the highest standards of football education and a positive environment for young people and to have a positive impact in our community”
Our Objectives
“To be the football club of choice in the Uttlesford district providing the highest standards of football education and a positive environment for young people and to have a positive impact in our community”
Our Objectives
- To encourage the playing of football at all levels
- To provide continuous development opportunities for our players, coaches and volunteers
- To develop a Club culture based on respect, best practice, safety and fair play
- To encourage parents to participate in the running of the club for the benefit of the players, Club and community
- To deliver this, it is important that our ethos is shared and adhered to by our contracted coaches, all of our volunteer team managers, our players and their parents or carers
Our ethos
Our ethos is the starting point for the creation of a culture of player development that leads to winning teams. It is a statement about the identity and character of the Club and outlines our fundamental and distinctive characteristics both on and off the pitch, our values and standards of behaviour and the things we believe are important. It is an opportunity to celebrate the pride in playing for Dunmow United and to help create new perceptions of what it means to be a Dunmow United player and Club member.
By communicating what we do and why, we hope to provide clarity and create relationships with all those involved in the development of our Club and of our players at every level. There is a commitment and determination to continue to improve each aspect of our ethos, although the core values and principles will not change, the methods and ways of working will be continually updated and refined to reflect new ideas and inputs. Collaboration is a core value of our ethos and we want all those involved in the development of our Club and players to contribute their ideas, feedback and ways forward to help us shape a successful future.
Our ethos is about being fair, inclusive but competitive and consists of 5 core elements:
By communicating what we do and why, we hope to provide clarity and create relationships with all those involved in the development of our Club and of our players at every level. There is a commitment and determination to continue to improve each aspect of our ethos, although the core values and principles will not change, the methods and ways of working will be continually updated and refined to reflect new ideas and inputs. Collaboration is a core value of our ethos and we want all those involved in the development of our Club and players to contribute their ideas, feedback and ways forward to help us shape a successful future.
Our ethos is about being fair, inclusive but competitive and consists of 5 core elements:
- Who we are
- How we play
- How we coach
- How we support
- How we are run
How we play
It is an absolute commitment of the club that no child is ever excluded the opportunity of playing football for reasons of gender, race, nationality, ethnic origin, colour, religion, sexual orientation or perceived ability as a footballer. We strongly believe that football is a game to be played and enjoyed by everyone, and our success is measured not by the trophies we win, but by the number of children who choose to play for and remain at the Club throughout their childhood. This is notwithstanding children whose natural progression may take them to higher levels of the game.
We have a clear playing philosophy based on:
We expect our players to:
We expect our Team managers to:
We have a clear playing philosophy based on:
- A possession-based approach
- Playing through the three-thirds of the pitch
- Quality of passing intelligent movement and support off the ball
- Penetrative/incisive attacking play
- Counter-attacking
We expect our players to:
- Show respect towards opponents, referees, team officials and supporters.
- Play as a team and work hard for each other
- Show good sportsmanship at all times
We expect our Team managers to:
- Treat everyone equally
- Place the well-being and safety of players above all other considerations.
- Develop working relationships with players based on mutual trust and respect
- Ensure that all players get a fair chance to play, in line with our “Playing Time Guidelines”
How we coach
As a Club we expect all of our players to want to improve and develop their game, our managers and coaches, with the support and help of parents, commit to the development and enjoyment of football for every child. In general our coaching sessions are available only to club members, from time to time we will allow potential club members to join coaching sessions for 2-3 weeks or via open trials days.
We supplement our volunteer workforce with contracted coaching appointments. These appointments are funded out of the Club, are based on annual contracts and focused on general skill development for U6 through to U11 with dedicated sessions specifically for goalkeeping skills across all age groups. Teams are naturally made up of players of different abilities and attributes, the measure of developmental progress and the measure of enjoyment for one player may not be the same as for another.
The Club recognises development and progress rates will be different for different players, our coaching aims to produce technically excellent and innovative players with exceptional decision-making skills; allowing players to develop to be the best they can be.
All children, regardless of ability, will be eligible to join the club, where squad size allows, even if there is a perceived ability-gap. Some children may be slow starters, or new to the game, or have health issues. Some children may be content to just train with a team, and not play matches until they feel confident enough. We want to help keep players in love with the game as a priority.
We will always do our best to accommodate players within a team, where this is not possible for what ever reason we will offer training membership as an option to train with our teams until such time as a place becomes available.
We supplement our volunteer workforce with contracted coaching appointments. These appointments are funded out of the Club, are based on annual contracts and focused on general skill development for U6 through to U11 with dedicated sessions specifically for goalkeeping skills across all age groups. Teams are naturally made up of players of different abilities and attributes, the measure of developmental progress and the measure of enjoyment for one player may not be the same as for another.
The Club recognises development and progress rates will be different for different players, our coaching aims to produce technically excellent and innovative players with exceptional decision-making skills; allowing players to develop to be the best they can be.
All children, regardless of ability, will be eligible to join the club, where squad size allows, even if there is a perceived ability-gap. Some children may be slow starters, or new to the game, or have health issues. Some children may be content to just train with a team, and not play matches until they feel confident enough. We want to help keep players in love with the game as a priority.
We will always do our best to accommodate players within a team, where this is not possible for what ever reason we will offer training membership as an option to train with our teams until such time as a place becomes available.
How we support
We all have a responsibility to promote high standards of behaviour in the game. Remember children’s football is a time for them to develop their technical, physical, tactical and social skills. Winning isn’t everything. Play your part and observe The FA’s Respect Code of Conduct for spectators and parents/carers at all times.
We expect all our supporters to:
It’s important to understand our expectations because the following actions may be taken by the club, the League, the County FA or The FA. You may be:
We expect all our supporters to:
- Remember that children play for FUN
- Applaud effort and good play as well as success
- Always respect the match officials’ decisions
- Remain outside the field of play behind the respect line/barrier
- Let the team manager do their job and not confuse the players by telling them what to do
- Encourage the players to respect the opposition, referee and match officials
- Avoid criticising a player for making a mistake – mistakes are part of learning
- Never engage in, or tolerate, offensive, insulting, or abusive language or behaviour
It’s important to understand our expectations because the following actions may be taken by the club, the League, the County FA or The FA. You may be:
- Issued with a verbal warning from a club or league official
- Required to meet with the Club, League or County FA Welfare Officer
- Required to meet with the Club Committee
- Obliged to undertake an FA education course
- Obliged to leave the match venue by the Club
- Requested by the Club not to attend future games
- Suspended or have your club membership removed
- Required to leave the Club along with any children playing for the Club
How we are run
The Club is run by a Committee, which is elected at its AGM, the Club Committee is responsible for:
The administration of the Club.
The Annual General Meeting (AGM) is held in March of each year, the purpose is to:
The administration of the Club.
- The development of the Club in line with its Ethos – Mission & Objectives
- The periodic review and adherence to the Club’s Welfare and Safeguarding Policies and Procedures, Codes of Conduct and the coordination of the Club’s Volunteers and for Schools Liaison
- Ensuring that, at all times, the Club has in place appropriate Public Liability Insurance in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Football Association
- Ensuring continuity of Management Committee appointments
The Annual General Meeting (AGM) is held in March of each year, the purpose is to:
- Receive the reports from the Officers of the Club over the previous year
- Elect or re-elect the following officers of the Club:- Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer
- Table proposals for the forthcoming season and changes to the overall development plan, including budgeting & funding requirements
