FORMER long-serving referee Keith Stroud is the new chief executive of the Bedfordshire FA, and wants the county’s football community to “challenge him” in his position.
Stroud has been involved in football for the last 25 years, both as a referee and a County FA employee, and believes that addressing a decline in adult football is one of his biggest challenges – with the county having lost 90 teams in the last year.
“Amongst our challenges in 2012 is going to be the decline in 11 v 11 adult football and engaging with the wide range of cultures and encouraging participation at all levels of the game in Bedfordshire,” he said.
“A big challenge is to change the perception of the football family, that Bedfordshire FA are not just here to collect the fines but we’re here to assist in the development of grassroots football.
“We have more than 1700 teams within the county from youth to adult, disability to girls and women’s, mini soccer to small sided football. All these areas require our help and assistance and we must ensure that we offer the support, resources and coaching to help retain and develop better players, improve and increase facilities, as well as enhance the volunteer workforce with training and continued support.
“My challenge to everyone involved in football is to challenge us as an Association to deliver what the football community require.
“Our challenge is set, to make Bedfordshire FA one of the top counties in the country with all of the participants within the county being part of achieving this goal.”
Although there is a decline in the amount of adults playing football, Stroud was quick to acknowledge that the Leighton Buzzard & District Sunday League is one of the success stories. And having began his career on local parks himself, the new county CEO certainly knows about that level of football.
He said: “I started refereeing in 1987, in the local parks of Bournemouth, my home town. I love football but was not the best of players and I sustained an injury that took me out of the game for a while.
“I ended up running the line for my local side and one day was approached by a referee who gave me the details of a referee’s course. I never looked back and have been lucky enough to referee in the Premier and Football Leagues and represent my country as an assistant referee.
“My highlight has to be my appointment as assistant referee for the 2003 FA Cup Final at the Millennium Stadium when Arsenal beat Southampton 1-0.
“With football being a big part of my life I decided to enter a career with the Hampshire FA, where I was referee development officer before becoming the marketing manager. These roles took me back to my roots and the importance of grassroots football.
“The majority of football is played on the parks around the country which is where we all start and I have never forgotten this and frequently visit the parks over a weekend to see real football take place.
“Being appointed as the chief executive of Bedfordshire FA is an honour and privilege. The job in hand is vital to lead the footballing community in developing football for all.”