Copmanthorpe FC have become only the second York club to be awarded the prestigious Community Charter Standard Status.

They were presented with their award at half-time of York City's Conference clash against Crawley Town on Saturday.

Copmanthorpe, a feeder club for City, offer excellent sporting facilities and have about 300 players, aged from five to 50, playing at various age groups, with the first team currently doing well in the Leeper Hare York and District League premier division.

Community Charter Standard is a status given to clubs with a minimum of ten teams who offer high quality social, training and playing opportunities for all. The FA Community Club scheme builds on the foundations of the Charter Standard status in placing clubs at the heart of their community.

Copmanthorpe's development plan now includes increasing the number of their qualified coaches, recruiting potential referees, creating more teams, including girls teams, and building a floodlit pitch.

The club's girls section have also received kit worth £300 from the Football Foundation as part of the junior kit scheme.

Girls football has been running at Copmanthor-pe FC for about 18 months and they have teams at under-12 and U17 level in the City of York Girls Football League.

Because of the growing demand for girls' football in the Copmanthorpe area, the club hope to enter teams at U10, U12, U14 and U17 level next season.

One of the coaches, Paul Bird said: "Most football at this level is run by volunteers, without the ever increasing army at Copmanthorpe FC football would not be available to boys or girls. If their are any Davina Beckhams out there not currently playing football or you would like to coach or manage a girls' team at Copmanthorpe FC, please contact me (01904 704256)."

Updated: 11:04 Wednesday, December 22, 2004