Caerphilly Castle Juniors Football Club has been recognised in the FAW’s Club Accreditation scheme.
Seventeen other clubs from the Gwent area also achieved accreditation including Ebbw Vale Town Junior FC – which achieved a bronze level.
The Club Accreditation Scheme, sponsored by McDonald’s, forms part of the Welsh Football Trust’s work to improve opportunities for youngsters to get involved in the game.
Other Gwent clubs to be recognised include Newport County Girls Junior FC and Mardy Junior FC.
The scheme, which is mandatory in Wales, applies to clubs offering football between the ages of seven and 16, and sets out standards of good practice which football clubs aim to achieve and even surpass in order to compete in junior leagues.
This includes a basic framework for club administration, qualifications for managers and coaches along with appropriate CRB and eligibility checks.
As part of the Welsh Football Trust’s ongoing review of the scheme, its development officer Jay Probert travelled to clubs around the country to speak to coaches and players.
Jay said: “The Club Accreditation Scheme is a pioneering benchmark scheme which aims to raise the general standards of how football is taught and enjoyed in a fun, safe environment.
“Feedback from the clubs who are voluntarily implementing the Scheme is vital to ensure that we continue to deliver a great structure that works in practice as well as in theory.
“Despite the fantastic uptake from clubs this year, particularly in Gwent, there are still two thirds of clubs that need to complete the accreditation process and I would urge them to do this as soon as they can.”
To find out more about the work of the Welsh Football Trust visit www.welshfootballtrust.org.uk