THE Football Association (FA) has given its own stamp of approval to youth club, Ryan FC.

That means that all coaches at the club are qualified level one or level two coaches. It also means that all staff have been vetted by the Criminal Record Bureau (CRB).

The recognition by the FA is the result of two years of effort by club secretary Richard Williams.

Not all clubs carry the seal. Now he wants to help launch girls football, in partnership with the Essex FA.

To find out more, visit ryanFC.net. Alternatively, call Richard on 07973 938 094.

Elsewhere, Waltham Abbey FC U13s faced a hard-fought battle against local rivals Abbey Youth FC in the Cheshunt Youth Football League on Sunday at Town Mead. Waltham Abbey took the lead thanks to Luke Holloway’s cheeky lob. Connor Crowley then made it 2-0. Sam Mansfield and Luke Casey squared the match for Youth, but goals from Alby Santagatta and captain Kyle Sprigg won it for Waltham Abbey.

Meanwhile, Walthamstow Wolves U10s held title-chasers Parkview to a 1-1 draw, with Amin Benyoucef scoring a free-kick. The U13s crashed to a 5-1 defeat, Jeffrey Acheampong giving them the lead early on.

On the rugby front, Woodford bulldozed South Woodham Ferrers with a brutal display in their Essex Cup U15 quarter-final clash. A clutch of players touched down twice, including Cameron Dutch, Daniel Matuatia, Will Cooper-Rendu, James Piras and Ashley Somers. Liam Sanderson grabbed the other try and Ryan Davis slotted three conversions.