TO mark International women's Day, Grays Athletic FC's equality and diversity officer Lee Vehit has shared this article with Thurrock Nub News.

MONDAY 8th March 2021 marks International Women's Day and for us at Grays Athletic Football Club (GAFC) it gives us an opportunity to share our appreciation of the fantastic women who do so much for the club.

In a sport where female influence is in short supply, nothing could be further from the truth at GAFC. Behind the scenes on matchday and supporting the operation of our Youth Management Committee, female influence can be seen in abundance.

We asked Club Secretary Janet Packer, about her time volunteering at GAFC:-

Janet has dedicated 11 years to the club. Initially to run the boardroom and then in 2013 becoming Club Secretary in what has proved to be an increasingly demanding role which encompasses the senior, U23's and youth teams. With responsibilities which includes taking board meeting minutes, player registrations, endless documentation management and respective league requirements having to be met, Janet is always busy keeping the administrative side of the club compliant. She is also the club's Safeguarding and Welfare Officer which poses its own challenges.

With the endless stream of information being emailed into the club, Janet has the unenviable task of responding to enquiries, updating the clubs many managers and coaches of relevant league information, updating fixture changes and liaising with referees as well as attending league meetings throughout the year including the AGMs.

The Club Secretary role is an all year-round position which requires a huge amount of professionalism and dedication, yet despite all this, Janet hardly ever complains and just gets on with it but does confess to getting frustrated with keeping the FA's Whole Game System website updated with the constant movements and changes within each team and leagues!

Despite being one of very few female Club secretaries within the non-league game, Janet has been fortunate to have never experienced discrimination for being a woman in a predominantly male orientated sport. Janet feels that when things are done correctly this creates a level of respect amongst peers whilst giving her the confidence to deal with players, referees and management.

One of the things that many of the GAFC faithful will notice is the fantastic relationship Janet has with everyone at the club, which is testament to the way she deals with people. Janet states this is down to the friendly and calm way she deals with all situations. Janet confirms she isn't the type of person to go in 'guns blazing' which helps when dealing with difficult people and difficult circumstances. Janet is renowned for making what she describes as a 'mean' cup of tea which is a wonderful tactic in defusing any situation!

Despite being such an influential figure at the club, Janet says she never dreamt she'd ever be a football club Director and is incredibly proud of the works she does, including never having incurred a fine for not following league rules! Moving forward, Janet would like to think she will still be the Club Secretary and involved when the opportunity arises to move into a new ground that we can call home.

Female influence at the club doesn't just end with Janet.

On a match day, Communications Director Rebecca Webb will often be the first friendly face that greets supporters as they enter the turnstiles. Rebecca has been a Director of the club since 2017 and feels GAFC is an incredibly important part of her life. Not only does Rebecca perform important duties as a Director, turnstile operator and general stewarding duties, she is also the clubs Membership Secretary who Rebecca jovially says 'nags' people into buying and renewing memberships.

Rebecca cites GAFC as being 'my football family' and believes many people feel the same. Rebecca's friendly and personable nature is one of many reasons why she is a popular figure at the club and she always looks forward greeting fans on matchday, having a chat, sharing a laugh and catching up with regular supporters as well as making away fans feel welcome. Rebecca is extremely honoured that she volunteers at the club and feels it is one of the most inclusive, friendly clubs in the league.

Another friendly face at the turnstiles you will often see is Kim Ross. Kim has been a fantastic help at the club for several years and ensures the safe entry of supporters into the ground, as well as assisting with stewarding during the match. Kim's experience as a nurse has been invaluable at times when first aid has been required at games.

Once in the ground, matchday volunteer Audrey Nash will often be seen selling raffle tickets and merchandise whilst always being on hand for a friendly chat. Audrey has been a supporter of the club since 1969 after buying a property in Grange Road, just behind the Rec, with her late husband who was also an avid fan of the Blues.

Audrey has been helping the club as a volunteer ever since the Mill Field days and feels the club is an incredibly important part of her life and since her husband passed away in 2016 provides her with an abundance of social interaction and friendship as well letting Audrey, as she says, 'do her thing!'.

With The Blues required to share facilities whilst they remain homeless, the club want to ensure they make Aveley FC's Parkside a "home away from home". This commitment means that, on matchdays, everyone is committed to make a really positive impression with everyone that visits the ground and that the hospitality is top class.

Alison Popham manages this for GAFC and does an incredible job ensuring the boardroom is well prepared and organised for the needs of home and away officials, referees, sponsors and guests. Alison has been a supporter for over 50 years, following in the footsteps of her Father, Bryan Coker, who served the club with distinction during his many years as a Director.

It's not just within the men's first team where female influence is strong, the Youth Management Committee is filled with fantastic, committed women who help the youth section tick over.

Claire Hare has the huge task of providing welfare support to hundreds of our young people as Child Welfare Officer as well as managing the club's newest team, the mixed U9 Tigers and organising the clubs Wildcats programme which provide football fun and learning for girls aged between five and eleven. Claire has been heavily influential in ensuring all our coaches are qualified, DBS Checked and safe to work with children whilst managing any concerns raised to her with the appropriate authorities and stakeholders.

Lifelong fan Sarah Smallbone can regularly be seen at games with her father and her enthusiasm for GAFC is unrivalled. Sarah has recently joined the Youth Management Committee as our Schools Liaison Officer and is charged with forging relationships with the boroughs schools in hope of recruiting new players and developing football opportunities for Thurrock's youngsters. With the future of the club heavily reliant on youth development, the role Sarah performs for the club is as important as ever.

Claire Pitney looks after the interests of our female teams as the Female Development Officer and is responsible for growing the female side of the game within the club and ensuring female football is publicised and given the respect it deserves within Essex and further afield.

Claire has three talented daughters in the GAFC U13 youth team and has an incredible enthusiasm for the role and passion for the female game to be taken seriously without bias. With the current U18 team expected to transition into senior female football from next season, Claire is looking at ways to showcase the fantastic work that our current teams are doing as well as looking to acquire more female players and build new teams to add to the GAFC family.

As International Women's Day passes by for another year, GAFC is incredibly proud of the passionate and gifted women who help make the club what it is today – thank you all.