Football’s finest rewarded at 2019 Volunteers’ Awards Evening

Some excellent volunteers within Norfolk Football were rewarded on Friday night as we held our annual Volunteers’ Awards Evening supported by Chaplin Farrant.

After weeks of nominations and shortlisting, the annual event sees a host of awards presented to deserving individuals, clubs and leagues; whose tireless work sees football played each weekend around the County.

Among the accolades were The Norfolk FA Long Service Awards, The FA Groundsman of the Year Award, Safeguarding Volunteer of the Year award and The FA & McDonald’s Grassroots Football Awards for the 18/19 season.

Special guests that were invited to mark the occasion, take part in Q&A’s as well as present awards, were Premier League Referee Kevin Friend; three-time Paralympian and England’s all-time leading goal scorer, David Clarke; and former Norfolk U18’s Captain turned professional Norwich City player, Billy Johnson.

Former Lioness Rachel Unitt was also scheduled to attend to discuss the rising popularity of the Women’s Game, but unfortunately had to withdraw due to illness.

Norfolk FA Chairman Michael Banham commented on the success of the evening, which saw almost 200 people in attendance, and the importance of recognising such outstanding commitment to Grassroots Football:

“Once again our annual Volunteers’ Awards Evening was a brilliant occasion in which we were able to recognise and reward the fantastic volunteer workforce we have in Norfolk. We hosted the evening at The Space, Norwich for the first time and I’m sure all would agree that the venue was superb.

“I would like to thank all involved for making the evening such a success, especially our guest speakers, Billy Johnson, Kevin Friend and David Clarke and I would also like to place on record my thanks to Chaplin Farrant for once again supporting the evening and the rewarding of our volunteers.”

A full list of award winners are as follows:

The FA & McDonald’s Grassroots Football Awards

The Grassroots League of the Year - The Norfolk & Suffolk Youth League

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvM2C0moc9s 

The Respect Award – We Only Do Positive – The Norfolk & Suffolk Youth League

Grounds Team of the Year – Nicky Wood & Neil Coop (North Walsham Town FC)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfhxN9rrEKk&t=10s 

Rising Star of the Year – Matt Friend

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvRpL2wjcvI&t=2s 

Match Official of the Year – Karl Smith

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_BWWQRulYY 

Grassroots Project of the Year (Highly Commended) – Norfolk Women’s & Girls’ League (Mental Health Awareness)

Grassroots of the Year (Highly Commended) – Woodton United FC (LGBT Inclusivity)

Grassroots Project of the Year – Match of the Dads

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jUochAkVYI 

Supporter of the Year – Darrell Allen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3xOzBqn-Wg&t=4s 

Grassroots Club of the Year – Tasburgh FC

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruFYhRCoh2M&t=29s 

Volunteer of the Year (Highly Commended) – Ray Ewart (Swaffham Town FC)

Volunteer of the Year – Nathan Pauling (Taverham FC) 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdFpMeNNnkU 

Coach of the Year – Jason White (Costessey Sports FC)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCCfUe5Ab6U 

The Peter Smith Groundsman of the Year Award

The FA Groundsman of the Year (Norfolk) – Steve Finch (Wells Town FC)

The Norfolk FA Long Service Awards

10 Years’ Service as a Club Officer – David Todd (Earsham FC)

15 Years’ Service as a Club Officer – Mark Jeffries (Homecare United FC)

25 Years’ Service as a Club Officer – Simon Bell (Bridgham United FC)

10 Years’ Service as a League Officer – Darren Iles (Norfolk Combined Youth League)

15 Years’ Service as a League Officer – Michael Mills (Norfolk Combined Youth League)

15 Years’ Service as a League Officer – James Harris (Norfolk Combined Youth League)

15 Years’ Service as a League Officer – Mel Perkins (Norfolk Combined Youth League)

15 Years’ Service as a League Officer – Ann Hayek (Norfolk Combined Youth League)

15 Years’ Service as a League Officer – Paul Emblem (Norfolk & Suffolk Youth League)

25 Years’ Service as a League Officer – John Watson (The Anglian Combination League)

15 Years’ Service to the Norfolk County FA Council – John Day

The Norfolk FA Safeguarding Volunteer of the Year Award

Safeguarding Volunteer of the Year – Amanda Sheehy (Horsford FC)

Photography: Christiaan Partridge Photography. Full album can be found here: http://po.st/VAE19photos   

To view Christiaan's usual work, please visit his website: http://www.cjpimages.co.uk/