Middlesex County Football Association rewards grassroots excellence.
The Middlesex County Football Association is delighted to announce the winners for a brand new football awards programme that recognises grassroots clubs and volunteers. The FA and its Community Partner, McDonalds, has teamed up to reward improving standards at the grassroots level which has resulted in the first Middlesex winners.
Nominations were requested from across the region for a number of awards and the Middlesex County Football Association was inundated with quality applications. The Middlesex judging panel met last week to decide the winners and after much deliberation are pleased to elect the following winners:
Outstanding Contribution to Community Football Award
Keith Chamberlin
Volunteer of the Year Award
Tony Doherty (Ruislip Rangers)
FA Charter Standard Club of the Year Award
Ruislip Rangers
The Outstanding Contribution to Community Football Award is especially fitting for Keith Chamberlin. He has been involved with football in a variety of capacities over some forty years. After playing, Keith began volunteering with Pitshanger, helping build the club from youth through to senior football playing opportunities. He moved onto coach semi-professional football with Southall and Harrow Borough. Not only did Keith manage the teams superbly but he also found time to be a committee member on the Harrow Youth Football League. Keith clearly cannot help but contribute to football and has been refereeing on the Harrow Youth Football League for over thirty years on top of everything else he has done. This award is most deserving.
Tony Doherty has had a huge impact on the football offered at FA Charter Standard Club Ruislip Rangers. Volunteering as an U13’s boy’s manager, Tony has also been instrumental in developing the girls section at the club. Not only is Tony hands-on with his coaching but he also involves himself with the club committee, maintains the club website and submits match reports. Tony is a great role model for the club and continues to inspire others in the community to be involved. Tony has proven to be a great volunteer this past year and over the many years before.
The FA Charter Standard Club of the Year Award is due recognition for Ruislip Rangers. The Hillingdon based club offer football throughout youth age groups for both boys and girls in the area. Being an FA Charter Standard Club, Ruislip Rangers already operate to governing body standards but also go above and beyond in ensuring they offer a quality environment for everyone to enjoy football. Ruislip Rangers has a superb infrastructure which bodes well for the future and long-term sustainability of the club. They are a fine member of the Harrow Youth Football League and Harrow Soccer 7’s Combination.
All of the winners will receive tickets to the FA Community Shield, a certificate, Umbro Vouchers and additional gifts. The competition for each award category was fantastic and it is testament to the quality of the winners that they should now be put forward for FA Regional and potentially National Awards. The Middlesex County Football Association would like to thank all of the nominees for their applications which made the decision making process so competitive, particularly those who submitted winning applications which were so deserved.
For more information, please contact: Steeven Sharpe, Football Development Officer (Clubs), Middlesex County Football Association, on steeven.sharpe@middlesexfa.com or 020 8515 6901.