VALE Royal Athletics Club have been awarded Club Mark status by governing body Sport England.
The club have spent the past 12 months working towards the Club Mark which is a national standard showing how sports clubs should be run.
The prestigious charter mark shows the club is child friendly, safe and managed in a professional way.
Head coach Shaun McGrath is delighted with the announcement.
He said: "It's really good that we have been recognised in this way because the Club Mark is not an easy award to achieve.
"It is particularly impressive that we have achieved this without really having any facilities.
"It's taken a lot of hard work from everyone involved with the club."
To be granted Club Mark status Vale Royal Athletics Club had to satisfy a list of nearly 100 regulations falling under four main headings; child protection, competition, coaching and club management.
They also had to show that there are strong community links with coaches from the club regularly visiting primary and secondary schools.
Club president Harry Evans, who worked with coach Neil Templeman to gain Club Mark, is pleased with the award.
He said: "Vale Royal has been proven to be a safe, effective and child friendly club for young athletes.
"We have a vision for the future with development plans in place and clear protocols for all athletes, coaches and parents to benefit everyone at the club."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article