SUFFOLK FA will be offering FREE Affiliation for the 2023-24 season.

The offer will be for all teams and clubs, including new and existing teams/clubs.

Suffolk FA Chief Executive Richard Neal said: “Suffolk FA recognise the increasing cost of living, felt over the last twelve months in particular, continues to provide huge challenges to club officials, families, and individuals participating in and providing football to local communities.

“As one example, for clubs with floodlights just the cost of having these on for a 90-minute match has more than doubled in electricity price in most cases.

“Alongside this, there are a number of requirements being introduced for the 2023-24 season which will further stretch club and individual finances.

“This includes all eligible youth team officials being required to hold an in-date FA Safeguarding Children Course certificate and the introduction of updated Medical Regulations for National League System clubs.

“Football continues to be a vital outlet to 25,000+ registered players across Suffolk.

“With people having to make very real decisions about how to spend their time and money, we want to ensure football for the coming season is as cost-effective as possible so that football participation either doesn’t have to be part of that decision or comes out very favourably. .

“Therefore, Suffolk FA will be seeking to reduce the costs of football for the 2023/24 season in three ways:

• FREE affiliation for all teams and clubs, including new and existing teams/clubs.
• Covering the cost for all affiliated clubs and leagues to have Public Liability Insurance, effectively making this mandatory requirement FREE for 2023/24.
• FREE sanctioning to all Suffolk-affiliated leagues.

“This is a forecast £30,000 investment into the local game by the Suffolk FA Board for the 2023/24 season.

“Our request is for clubs and leagues to consider these reduced costs when making decisions about club and league membership fees for the new season.”

The 2023/24 affiliation window will not open until June 2023 (exact date to be confirmed) rather than early-May as has been the case in recent years.