New-look team heads up Norfolk Christian football 

There is a new-look committee for the Norfolk Christian League’s new season but the aim is still the same - to link church to community through the medium of football, according to new league chairman Tom Horsfall.

Tom, who has been managing the Gateway Vineyard team for the past five years, said: “Our aim as a league is to bring the church and community together through football. We also want to see more and more people develop a relationship with Jesus through what we do.
 
“We would also like to grow the adult league – we are now up to ten adult teams which is the largest for a long time - and we hope to see youth leagues restart at U12, U14 and U16 level.
 
“We are eager to see more and more people get involved and promote what we are doing as it is a great league, great fun and a great community,” said Tom.
 
When asked how the league might achieve this, Tom said: “By sharing the Word and being intentional about that, praying before each game and getting involved in things together.
 
“Gateway Vineyard football team for example are partnered with Hope into Action, a Christian homelessness charity in Norwich, doing some fund-raising. We also aim to demonstrate our faith through how we behave both on and off the pitch and outside of that and living our lives in honour of God, sharing our own stories and getting alongside people and encouraging them.
 
“Respect is key for us as clubs and managers. We want to conduct ourselves in a manner which is reflective of the churches we are associated with but also setting an example so that the leaders on the pitch demonstrated that respect, encouragement and education.
 
League secretary, Paul Nice, who has been holding the reins for the past year or so, said: “We now have a refreshed committee for the new season which is a real blessing after the issues of last season.

“This new committee is very much the NCFL way, a collaborative effort between the clubs to ensure that the league can run whilst supporting each other, in an atmosphere of fellowship and friendship, to link church to community through football,” said Paul.  
 
The new committee members are as follows: 
- Chair - Tom Horsfall of the Gateway Vineyard club
- Deputy chair and Welfare Office - Mike Culwick - longstanding committee member and ex-chair on two occasions.
- Secretary - Paul Nice of the City Gates Athletic club
- Treasurer - Kate Bultitude - former auditor of the league accounts, now moving to a more high profile role.
- Referees Secretary and Respect Officer - Chris Allen, longstanding member of the committee
- Fixtures Secretary - Henry Aspin of the Eaton Eagles club
- Social Media Secretary - Rupert Appleton of the City Gates Athletic club
 
Pictured above is new league chairman, Tom Horsfall.