#BBFAStars is about recognising the inspirational work of volunteers across the county all-year-round.

It’s a way for us, as the County FA, to say ‘Thank You’. Thank you for all your time, effort and relentless dedication to the game across Berks & Bucks FA. It’s also a way for your peers, your friends, fellow volunteers and local communities to recognise the people, often in the background, that help keep their clubs & leagues alive, week-in & week-out.

The roles we celebrate in #BBFAStars are not always in the spotlight, but the people that take them on often do so through a love of the game. #BBFAStars is not only about recognising their individual efforts but also about showing you a side of the game that you don’t often see.

Here, Luke Bishop, Chairperson at Burghfield FC talks about why he does what he does, and what it means to be a club chairperson, asked first, what it feels like to be our winner, Luke said; "I’m genuinely humbled it’s nice to be thought of in this way and some people have said some lovely things!"

The chairperson is a crucial role in any club or league. The role of a chairperson is to oversee the running of the club/league and ensure that it is run efficiently and managed appropriately. They will lead club/league meetings and provide leadership in all areas such as club tournaments, etc. When asked why he does this role, Luke said: 

"I have a very long affiliation with the club from when I started playing for them in 1993 as a five year old, the club means an awful lot to a lot of people and I’m very determined to push the club forward both on & off the pitch."

Getting involved with your football club in a role behind the scenes can bring a lot of satisfaction and open the doors to new experiences & opportunities; from seeing both the club and people around you grow & succeed to meeting new, passionate people along the way.

For those people thinking about becoming involved in the sport and perhaps in the chairperson role, Luke has this advice; 

"You've got to focus on the positives, of course the role can be difficult - it’s never nice having to deal with the negative side of the game - but the good massively outweighs the bad, and I promise, seeing everyone enjoying and playing the game on the weekend makes all the time and effort worth it!"

If you would like to find out more about the types of volunteer roles available in grassroots football or about becoming a chairperson and working with your local club, please contact a member of the team via email, or call on 01235544890 for an informal chat.

Our next #BBFAStars Award is coming in March, so if you know want to say thank you to the person at your club or league, all it takes is a simple tweet. 

To find out more about the awards, and how to nominate, visit #BBFAStars – alternatively, keep your eyes peeled on our Twitter account for the nomination tweet to appear at the beginning of the month.