Hello everyone! I’m Freya Gudge, Chairperson of the Somerset FA Youth Council, Football Development Officer at Richard Huish College in Taunton, Somerset, and I was incredibly proud to be part of the delivery team for England Football’s Your Game – Somerset. I am a former member of the FA National Youth Council and a graduate of the FA Leadership Academy 2024, experiences which have shaped my passion for youth leadership and development within football.

England Football’s Your Game is a local event designed to support young people aged 14–24, helping them explore the wide range of opportunities available within the football workforce and empowering them to take their next steps in the game while following their passion. Football has always been about more than what happens on the pitch. It provides young people with a powerful voice and opportunities to develop key life skills such as leadership, teamwork, communication, and confidence - all while helping to shape the future of grassroots football. Your Game Somerset truly embodied this ethos.

Hosted at Richard Huish College in Taunton, the event brought together 20 young people who took part in three engaging and interactive workshops, each showcasing different roles within football:

● Clubmaker Workshop - A 90-minute interactive session offering a behind-the-scenes look at how football clubs operate off the pitch. Participants explored roles including club management, social media, safeguarding, finance, and more.

● Coaching Masterclass - Delivered by a Somerset FA Coach Developer, this session provided valuable insight into coaching pathways, session design, and how to adapt practices to meet the diverse needs of players.

● Reflection and Content Workshop - A space for young people to reflect on their learning, create content, discuss key takeaways, and consider how they will apply these skills in their future football journeys.

I was fortunate to take on the role of Event Guide and to support the Coaching Masterclass, where I shared my own coaching journey and experiences. This allowed me to offer honest insight into coaching, including how to adapt sessions, build meaningful relationships with players, and navigate the aspects of coaching that often go unspoken. Being an Event Guide also gave me the opportunity to lead and facilitate open, honest, and impactful conversations with the young people in attendance - hearing about their journeys, aspirations, and the difference they hope to make within football in the future was truly inspiring.

It was an absolute pleasure to be part of the first England Football Your Game event delivered by a County FA, and one thing is clear: the future of youth leadership in Somerset football is incredibly bright.