The Durham County Football Association (also simply known as the Durham FA) is the governing body of football in the county of Durham, from grassroots to professional level. The Durham FA was founded on 25 March 1883.[1] They run a number of cups for teams across the county for under-18, under-21, ladies teams, and an under-18 representative team.
History
In 1879, the joint Durham and Northumberland Football Association was founded, until 1883, when travel problems for the clubs prompted a change. On 11 May 1883, 40 clubs met in the Alexandra Hotel in Newcastle and voted to form an independent body known as the Northumberland Football Association. The Durham clubs followed suit by holding a meeting at the Three Tuns Hotel, Durham City, on 25 May 1883. The nine clubs who were represented at that meeting formed the Durham County Football Association.
In its second season, 18 clubs took part in the Durham Challenge Cup, the only county cup competition in the country at that time. On its 125th anniversary in 2007–08, the association organised 11 county cup competitions at various levels, and a total of 988 clubs participated. The association now has 2,386 teams and 1,055 referees affiliated, with 13 staff. In 1883, the staff consisted of a part-time honorary secretary.
The association opened its first rented office at 10 Tenters Terrace, Durham City, on 1 October 1913. In June 1923, it purchased Codeslaw, The Avenue, Durham City, to provide "an office, meeting rooms and residence for the secretary". In 1971, the association moved to larger offices at The Sands, Durham City, which were officially opened by its then President, Arthur Askew. Owing to an increase in staff, another move was required and a custom-built suite of offices was erected at The Riverside, Chester-le-Street, which were officially opened on 9 June 2005 by the association's president, Frank Pattison, and the chairman of The Football Association, Geoffrey Thompson.[2]
Development
The Durham County Football Association (FA) assists clubs, leagues, and educational institutions. It collaborates with external development officers. Between 2008 and 2012, the Durham County FA established new partnerships.[3]
Governance
The governance department runs the day-to-day running of the County Football Association to provide assistance and advice in administration matters.[4]
