Team treated after their efforts in anti-bullying initiative.
Billericay Town U13s were treated to a free day out to watch Colchester United against Coventry City on Saturday 8th March after winning an Essex County FA competition linked to November’s Anti-Bullying Week.
Players and staff from the grassroots club were amongst the 4,426 spectators who saw Midlands visitors Coventry prevail by two goals to one at the Weston Homes Community Stadium in a Sky Bet League One encounter.
Billericay won a set of complimentary tickets to the match by supporting a Twitter competition run by the U's and the @EssexCountyFA.
Billericay won a set of complimentary tickets to the match by supporting a Twitter competition run by the U's and the @EssexCountyFA.
Children were invited by the U’s and the County FA to utilise a specific Twitter hashtag in connection with Anti-Bullying Week.
During that spell all the activity involving #BullyFreeEssex was catalogued as followers completed the sentence “We want a #BullyFreeEssex because...” One of the winning entries was from @CBmusketeer, who added: “...because it’s unfair people aren’t treated as equals and it ruins their life.”
During that spell all the activity involving #BullyFreeEssex was catalogued as followers completed the sentence “We want a #BullyFreeEssex because...” One of the winning entries was from @CBmusketeer, who added: “...because it’s unfair people aren’t treated as equals and it ruins their life.”
During the course of Anti-Bullying Week three U’s players also showed their support by wearing specially-branded yellow wristbands.
Ryan Dickson, Magnus Okuonghae and Clinton Morrison all backed the ‘Safe, Fun and Connected’ theme, which called on children and young people to take the lead on creating a future without bullying.
Ryan Dickson, Magnus Okuonghae and Clinton Morrison all backed the ‘Safe, Fun and Connected’ theme, which called on children and young people to take the lead on creating a future without bullying.
County Welfare Officer, Helen Hever, would like #BullyFreeEssex to remain for the future. She said: “We’re glad Billericay Town were rewarded for their support of the campaign, and I’d like to thank Colchester United for their backing of this project.
“There was some brilliant feedback during Anti-Bullying Week on Twitter and, just because it’s been and gone, it doesn’t mean we can’t continue to use the hashtag to raise awareness.
“There was some brilliant feedback during Anti-Bullying Week on Twitter and, just because it’s been and gone, it doesn’t mean we can’t continue to use the hashtag to raise awareness.
“In football we’re lucky to have qualified volunteer Welfare Officers within grassroots clubs and leagues who have been trained to deal with safeguarding issues, including bullying. Everyone should have an understanding of bullying so they can spot if a member of their team is behaving differently. They need to know who to speak to for support.”
, follow @EssexCountyFA on Twitter and search for ‘EssexFootball’ on Facebook.www.essexfa.com
For details on all aspects of grassroots football in Essex, visit
contains resources for those working directly with children and young people. www.beatbullying.org, while the BeatBully website at www.anti-bullyingalliance.org.ukFurther information is available from the Anti-Bullying Alliance at
contains resources for those working directly with children and young people. www.beatbullying.org, while the BeatBully website at www.anti-bullyingalliance.org.ukFurther information is available from the Anti-Bullying Alliance at