BISHOPTHORPE White Rose Football Club has been named as the Football Association McDonald’s Regional Club of the Year in the North Riding County Football Association.

The achievement marks outstanding efforts to promote football in their local community and honours the club, its players, coaches and volunteers who have dedicated their time to developing young talent and help ensure safety and deliver best practice.

Bishopthorpe White Rose currently has over 350 young players and 80 volunteers involved in its activities. This is on the back of a 100 per cent increase over three years arising from the large expansion of its successful girls’ football teams and its support of two disability teams.

As a result, the club has recruited more volunteer coaches and seen an increase in volunteer hours and improved administration processes and systems to accommodate the club’s growing numbers. It is one of the largest youth football clubs in the county.

Bishopthorpe’s Club Secretary Josh Wong said: "We are delighted to win this award and would like to thank North Riding FA for its invaluable support with the club's development.

"The club has grown massively over the past few years and is an important part of the local community in Bishopthorpe and beyond," he added. "We have many volunteers who put in a lot of hard work to make the club what it is and we are blessed with enthusiastic boys and girls who love their football. We now want to raise funds to build our own set of pitches and clubhouse so we have a home for our club.’

After several years of hiring locations for training and matches, Bishopthorpe White Rose Football Club recently secured local council and FA support to develop a home ground off Sim Balk Lane which will include the development of playing pitches and clubhouse.

The club is looking to increase its fundraising efforts and has set an initial target of raising £80,000 over the next two years for the project’s go-ahead.

Donna Crowthers, Football Development Officer at the North Riding County Football Association, said: "This acknowledgement is a wonderful achievement for the club and shows how far they have come in the last few seasons. The club caters for all, is very well run, and has superb volunteers throughout. This is award is for the excellent work each one of them puts into the club.’