Dear Sir, I wish to nominate 3Cs (Oldham) as the 2014 ECF Club of the Year. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3Cs (Childrens' Chess Club) now have a purpose-built premises, including rooms to conduct separate coaching sessions for various abilities. Features include a trophy room with club honours board and gallery of previous World Champions; function room; canteen; chess library, as well as computers with online chess access for its members. This season 3Cs won the Manchester League for the 12th time in 14 years including seven players aged under 21. The club have six teams in the MCF with players as young as eight taking part in the "adult" league. 3Cs also field teams in the 4NCL competing as a genuine club against the many "constructed" sides. However, more important to the club than any of the above is the continued progression it makes in encouraging more and more youngsters to become interested in chess. Since its inception in 1978, 3Cs has had the main aim of providing quality chess coaching for local children and teaching them the correct ethics of the game which can then hopefully be reflected in their general life. Players who began as youngsters with the club but are now more experienced don't just expect this conveyor belt of youth to continue by believing local schools should have teachers available to supply chess lessons. Instead the 3Cs' members volunteer their services and go into local schools themselves in order to give expert coaching to interested youngsters. From there, any players with potential are then invited to the 3Cs' club nights where they can be given more structured coaching and are eventually fed into the various teams. Club nights are not only an occasion to meet and play games but usually feature four various coaching groups to accommodate the massed ranks of youngsters in attendance, with video and computer technology being used to enhance the enjoyment of learning the skills of the game. Players are then able to progress from the novice section through to those who now show their skills at many various tournaments around the country - and beyond. One such local player who went through the 3Cs' ranks was Stephen Gordon, who began his chess career at the club as a six year old and is now amongst the elite band of players with the title of Grandmaster. The club also quite often provides transport for many of its youngsters to attend various tournaments, where they cannot only gain valuable experience by taking on seasoned opponents but also learn how to conduct themselves in a competitive yet respectful and friendly manner against others of far more advanced years than themselves. As well as the on-the-board ability of their players (on the January 2014 ECF grading list there are 18 players who began at the club as youngsters but who now have a grade of over 150), the success or otherwise of 3Cs can possibly be judged far better by the number of youngsters they have introduced to the game of chess - at one particular club night earlier this year the attendance of players aged under-18 totalled 71 ! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- As you require a 100-word summary for the ECF Club-of-the-Year nomination, I have therefore compiled a list below of the relevant facts I feel make 3Cs the ideal candidate for the 2014 award: Purpose-built premises with trophy room; function room; canteen; chess library; computers with online chess. Manchester League won for 12th time in 14 years including 7 players aged under 21. Teams in 4NCL competing as a club against many "constructed" sides. Six teams in MCF with players aged 8 competing in the "adult" league. Members going into local schools to conduct weekly chess sessions. 18 players over-150 grade on current ECF list who have come though the 3Cs' ranks. Regular attendance of over 50 youngsters at weekly club nights with 4 separate groups for coaching of various abilities.