Middlesex Football Association honoured individuals and projects involved in the local game late last month, as the Association hosted its 2018 Grassroots Football Awards ceremony at its headquarters at Rectory Park last month.

Providing an opportunity for partners and members of the grassroots workforce to see Middlesex FA’s new venue, the awards ceremony recognised and celebrated the hard work and dedication delivered to the game across the county by a number of individuals and organisations.

The winners of the 2018 Middlesex Grassroots Football Awards were:

Grounds Team of the Year – David Grundy of Pitshanger Football Club (top image)
Match Official of the Year – Garrett Eeles
Community Project of the Year – Hendon Football Club’s Mental Health Project (below, left)
Young Volunteer of the Year – Fatima Hussein, Capital City Academy
Volunteer of the Year – Angela Cannon, Ickenham Youth Football Club
Coach of the Year – Leah Ambridge, Bedfont Sports Club
Charter Standard Club of the Year – Whitton Wanderers Youth Football Club

Alongside her Middlesex FA Grassroots Football Award, Young Volunteer of the Year Fatima Hussein was also the national winner of The Bobby Moor Award, which is presented to an individual that has gone above and beyond to show respect ‘For All’ and raised the standard across every aspect of the game; breaking down barriers through football. In Fatima’s culture, it is believed that girls shouldn’t be doing any physical activity outdoors; something that her own father felt strongly about. Through her work with Capital City Academy and Brent Schools FA, she has managed to change his attitude.

In addition to the seven awards, a new eighth accolade was added to the list by Middlesex FA this year – recognising the effort of local SSE Wildcats Centres, which provide an opportunity for more girls to play the beautiful game. This year’s award was presented to Staines Lammas Youth Football Club, following their exemplary delivery on and off the pitch, which has seen the centre continue into this season. It has also launched new affiliated girls’ teams in partnership with Laleham and Kempton.

The evening also saw a cheque of £1,900 presented to London’s Air Ambulance (right), the Middlesex FA’s 2017/18 nominated charity. The sum included money raised from the Charity County Cup, which saw Bedfont Sports Club and match officials donate their fees for the game to charity. Pilot Andy Thompson collected the cheque on behalf of the charity and his colleagues.

This season’s nominated charity is St Luke’s Hospice in Harrow, a charity that is close to the hearts of those involved in the Middlesex FA. Thanks to The FA, Brentford Football Club, Arsenal Women Football Club, Queens Park Rangers Football Club and Kitlocker.com, a number of fantastic prizes were auctioned off on the night, with £235 raised.

John Taylor, Chair of Middlesex FA, said: “It was fantastic to welcome partners to Rectory Park for the Middlesex FA Grassroots Awards. The event was a great celebration of the outstanding contribution to football in our county by members of the community. Special congratulations go out to all our winners.”