Dulwich Hamlet chief Martin Eede collects Services to Football Award at London FA Awards Night

The tenth annual London Football Association Awards ceremony recognising and honouring the fantastic work of all London grassroots clubs, volunteers and London FA’s key partners was held last night in London at a wonderful gala event.

Returning to the home of English football, Wembley Stadium, the awards presentation was once again heralded as a huge success with more winners and more nominees than ever before. 

In front of what was a record attendance for the London FA awards evening, winners from all corners of the capital eagerly waited for their much-deserved moment in the spotlight.

On celebrating this momentous occasion, David Fowkes, Chief Executive of the London FA said: “Every year we make these awards an eye opener. It really is amazing the amount of volunteer work carried out by a vast array of people – all with one aim – to provide football for people of all ages, gender, ability, race, etc.

“For every winner there are a hundred other deserving cases that we simply cannot cater for at an awards evening. I am always humbled by the contribution volunteers make to the sport in London”

Before a host a host of industry professionals, London FA special guests including ex-footballer Gary Mabbutt and Rachel Yankey, and an army of dedicated grassroots volunteers, a total of 26 awards were handed out on the night with perhaps the most significant award, the highly commended “London FA Recognition Award” presented to the Vice Chairman of the London FA, Tony Sharples for his outstanding contribution and dedicated years of service to the London FA and to football in general.

Upon his recognition, Mr Sharples said: “I felt really honoured and privileged  to receive this award especially as last night showed that famous  phrase 'the Football Family' in its true light from the two young children to elderly members being acknowledged for their role in ensuring that football was available to everyone within the London Area, often under extremely difficult circumstances which do not arise in other County Football Associations.”

Hosted by BT Sports presenter Lynsey Hooper the awards, kindly sponsored by Munich Trophies, continued to come thick and fast with the highly regarded ‘Coach of the Year’ presented to Paul Harper for his sterling work at Lewisham Schools whilst the fiercely contested ‘Charter Standard Club Award’ this year going to Balham Blazers in South West London.

However, perhaps the most heartfelt and truly humbling moment of the night came when ex-Spurs footballer Mabbutt, took to the stage to present and accept a posthumous award for ‘Outstanding Contribution to Community Football’ on behalf of his friend the late, great Glenn Weaver, who sadly passed away earlier in the year. 

 Mabbutt was joined by Val Weaver and a number of the current Tottenham Hotspur Ladies football team to acknowledge just some of the excellent work Weaver had unselfishly carried out for many years for Tottenham Hotspur Women’s FC.

After the event, London FA Chairman George Dorling reflected on the occasion.

He told www.londonfa.com: “The Awards Evening was an undisputed success. The array of very worthy award winners eclipsed everyone's expectations as awards were presented to people from so many different facets of LFA life.

“Inclusion was the key word, and the winners all humbled by their experience at a very imposing venue, were not too overawed to comment on the worthy work they all did.

“Amazingly the winners each felt that their awards were not individual efforts, but very much part of a team and the vast and varied work on display this evening only goes to credit the LFA in their approach and efforts to ensure that grassroots football is very much alive and kicking in London”

This year’s jury, headed by Chairman George Dorling included both representatives from each department of the London FA and, for only the second time ever, the London FA Skills Team. 

A statement added: “The London FA would like to extend their thanks to the team at Wembley Stadium and for all those involved in making the evening a huge success.”

Full List of 2015 Winners:

Young Volunteer of the Year – Jawahir Roble

Volunteer of the Year – Nikola Curtis (Glebe FC)

Club Volunteer of the Year – Daniel Mascol (Selkent)

League Volunteer of the Year – Sally Dolan (Selkent)

Football Futures Volunteer of the Year – Maria Fernandes

Inclusion Partner of the Year – Football Beyond Borders

Disability Partner of the Year – Steve Johnston (Special League)

Facility Award – John Ratcliffe (Meridian Sports and Social Club)

The FA Charter Standard Club Award – Balham Blazers

The Development Club Award – Vallance FC

The FA Community Club Award – Dulwich Village FC

Female Charter Standard Club of the Year – Limehouse Laces

Outstanding Contribution to Female Football – Katee Hui

College Partner of the Year – Leyton Sixth Form College

Recreational Football Partner of the Year (Walking Football) – Age UK Bromley & Greenwich

Recreational Football Partner of the Year (Futsal) – LSBU Academy of Sport

Referee Volunteer of the Year – Mike McNally

Referee’s Continuous Service Award – Dragan Jenic, Gordon Manning, Andreas Anastasiou

Best Attitude to Learning (Aged 5-11) – Woody Warren (Boys) & Lauren Casey (Girls)

Commitment to Developing Football Opportunities for 5-11 year olds – Samuel Essien

Outstanding Contribution to Football in Primary Schools – Sue Whiting

Youth Division Long Services Awards – Ian Burke, Alan Clarke, Peter Cox, David Lando, Tony Pretty & Cliff Seely

Outstanding Contribution to Community Football – Glenn Weaver

Coach of the Year – Paul Harper (Lewisham Schools)

Special Award for Services to Football – Martin Eede (Dulwich Hamlet)

London FA Recognition Award – Tony Sharples

Article courtesy of www.londonfa.com