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So Close! Alwyn makes it into the top 3 – What a result!
Ray Lewis25 Apr - 11:19
At the star-studded Festival of Women’s Football Awards night in London
Wednesday evening 23rd April saw the inaugural Festival of Women’s Football Awards held at the prestigious 8 Northumberland Avenue in central London. These national awards are to celebrate women’s football in general at both professional (WSL) through to grassroots level covering a variety of categories.
Our own Alwyn Day, who has worked tirelessly to form and run our new women’s section was nominated by the ladies in the 'Grassroots Coach of the Year – Adult' category for his work in running the sessions and coaching the ladies, some of whom had never played the game or even participated in sport at all before joining the group. The results of his success can be seen by them having played two friendlies, winning both of them, scoring 11 goals for and only conceding one against. They have now been invited to join the Birmingham Ladies Walking Football League.
The Awards event was attended by over 300 people from all over the country. Alwyn commented: “Prior to the award ceremony itself, guests were shown along a red carpet into an impressive room set up with tall round bar tables and treated to an excellent array of what can be best described as a high-quality buffet of posh nosh served by an endless parade of waiters. There was a bar with help yourself beverages of wine, beer and spirits plus the obligatory soft drinks for those who abstain from a tipple. Also in the room was a variety of football related interactive games to enjoy where participants were encouraged to have a go as there were prizes of various items of football kit to be won".
The award ceremony itself was in the upstairs plush ballroom and was presented by Talksport broadcaster, presenter and journalist Shebahn Aherne and as the different award categories were read out, a WSL player, sponsor or one of the judging panel came up on stage to present the trophy to the winner.
Notable professional winners were Chelsea and England’s Lucy Bronze, who won the fans player of the year award and Arsenal and England centre forward, Alessia Russo, awarded best forward player in the WSL.
In the Grassroots category of 'Coach of the Year - Adult', Alwyn made a shortlist of only 3 from a long list of nominees and was up against a local from the East Finchley Women's FC Club based in London and another from the Wigan Athletic Club.
According to the presenter it was a very close-run thing, but the local guy from East Finchley was declared the winner. However, it goes without saying that to reach the final three in a national competition for ALL women’s football and not just walking football is a tremendous achievement in itself and well worthy of recognition. In fact, Alwyn was the only nominee to be shortlisted from a walking football club.
When asked to comment about the evening Alwyn said “I am extremely proud to have been nominated in the first place by the ladies who are a wonderful group to be involved with and a joy to watch playing walking football at our sessions. To then be shortlisted by the judges who were industry professionals from a long list of worthy grassroots men and women who give their time willingly to the cause of promoting women’s football, was indeed an honour”. Alwyn went on to say: “I didn’t quite make the winners slot and to be perfectly honest, being so near and yet so far left me feeling a bit jaded for a while, but it was an honour to represent our club and a great experience to be involved in. I will treasure the memory, plus of course the recognition it gives and puts Coventry & District Walking Football Club firmly on the footballing map. We must be doing the right things!".
Alwyn also asked me to give a special mention to our club committee and say that from the outset of the project to set up and run a Women's section, Club Chairman Russ and his colleagues have been fully committed and supportive of him and the group of women. He also asked me to say a personal thank you to Bruce who comes to lend a hand and give support at all Tuesday sessions and is a great supporter of the ladies group.
Our own Alwyn Day, who has worked tirelessly to form and run our new women’s section was nominated by the ladies in the 'Grassroots Coach of the Year – Adult' category for his work in running the sessions and coaching the ladies, some of whom had never played the game or even participated in sport at all before joining the group. The results of his success can be seen by them having played two friendlies, winning both of them, scoring 11 goals for and only conceding one against. They have now been invited to join the Birmingham Ladies Walking Football League.
The Awards event was attended by over 300 people from all over the country. Alwyn commented: “Prior to the award ceremony itself, guests were shown along a red carpet into an impressive room set up with tall round bar tables and treated to an excellent array of what can be best described as a high-quality buffet of posh nosh served by an endless parade of waiters. There was a bar with help yourself beverages of wine, beer and spirits plus the obligatory soft drinks for those who abstain from a tipple. Also in the room was a variety of football related interactive games to enjoy where participants were encouraged to have a go as there were prizes of various items of football kit to be won".
The award ceremony itself was in the upstairs plush ballroom and was presented by Talksport broadcaster, presenter and journalist Shebahn Aherne and as the different award categories were read out, a WSL player, sponsor or one of the judging panel came up on stage to present the trophy to the winner.
Notable professional winners were Chelsea and England’s Lucy Bronze, who won the fans player of the year award and Arsenal and England centre forward, Alessia Russo, awarded best forward player in the WSL.
In the Grassroots category of 'Coach of the Year - Adult', Alwyn made a shortlist of only 3 from a long list of nominees and was up against a local from the East Finchley Women's FC Club based in London and another from the Wigan Athletic Club.
According to the presenter it was a very close-run thing, but the local guy from East Finchley was declared the winner. However, it goes without saying that to reach the final three in a national competition for ALL women’s football and not just walking football is a tremendous achievement in itself and well worthy of recognition. In fact, Alwyn was the only nominee to be shortlisted from a walking football club.
When asked to comment about the evening Alwyn said “I am extremely proud to have been nominated in the first place by the ladies who are a wonderful group to be involved with and a joy to watch playing walking football at our sessions. To then be shortlisted by the judges who were industry professionals from a long list of worthy grassroots men and women who give their time willingly to the cause of promoting women’s football, was indeed an honour”. Alwyn went on to say: “I didn’t quite make the winners slot and to be perfectly honest, being so near and yet so far left me feeling a bit jaded for a while, but it was an honour to represent our club and a great experience to be involved in. I will treasure the memory, plus of course the recognition it gives and puts Coventry & District Walking Football Club firmly on the footballing map. We must be doing the right things!".
Alwyn also asked me to give a special mention to our club committee and say that from the outset of the project to set up and run a Women's section, Club Chairman Russ and his colleagues have been fully committed and supportive of him and the group of women. He also asked me to say a personal thank you to Bruce who comes to lend a hand and give support at all Tuesday sessions and is a great supporter of the ladies group.
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