YORK Acorn ARLC have achieved the Clubmark Gold Award.

Clubmark Gold contains all the criteria of the general Clubmark award, plus added specific requirements such as operating a minimum of three youth or junior teams, having a qualified first aider for every team and having a volunteer co-ordinator.

It is a higher level of accreditation which will now see the Thanet Road outfit, who have a large junior section and two open-age teams, become one of the outfits recognised as a “focus club” by the RFL.

The award was completed by Acorn first-team secretary Andy Grant and club secretary Louise Atkins, with the support of Nick Settle, the Rugby Football League Service Area co-ordinator for the region.

It was presented before a York City Knights pre-season fixture.

The benefits for achieving Clubmark Gold include becoming a priority club for RFL support with funding applications, volunteer recruitment and coach development, and having access to discounted coaching courses and big discounts on personal accident insurance premiums for youth and junior teams.

Settle said: “This has been a long and worthwhile journey for York Acorn. Louise and Andy have been the key people for this achievement and I would like to say it’s been a pleasure working with both of them.

“The club should be very proud to have two such hard-working members. This will give Acorn a good foundation to build on and be one of the strongest clubs in Yorkshire.”