#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.

March’s ‘Footie Mum’ Award which also looked to celebrate International Women’s Day and Mother’s Day, was about recognising the role that mums play in helping to keep the game alive and enabling their children to play and enjoy grassroots football week-in-week-out.

Here, Jas Brown, volunteer at Maidenhead United Juniors FC talks about why she does what she does, and what it means to be involved with a grassroots club, asked first, what it feels like to be our winner, Jas said; "To start with it I actually felt a little embarrassed, but more because there are so many people out there that give up so much time like myself.  However on reflection to be nominated was a real honour, to have people recognise what we do to ensure so many children have the opportunity and to play football is quite something."

When asked why she does this role, Jas said: "I do what I do to give something back to the community, to give children the chance to grow both on and off the pitch. When I was younger growing up, there wasn’t a girls team in Maidenhead, I had to travel to Marlow to play. So to be able to give girls an equal opportunity to play was something that I was quite passionate about."

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 a volunteer role, Jas has this advice: "Go for it, being a volunteer is one of the most rewarding things to do. To help develop these players both on and off the pitch is so important.

"Helping girls/ women have an equal opportunity to succeed is the most rewarding part of what we do. I have watched my players grow so much that two of them have now become the first female referees in the club. Those little things make you so proud."

If you would like to find out more about the types of volunteer roles available in grassroots football or about 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 April, 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 towards the beginning of the month.