Nominate in FA awards

Nominations are now open for the England Football and McDonald’s Grassroots Football Awards.

Every year the FA and McDonald’s run the grassroots awards which is aimed at highlighting the extraordinary work of volunteers in the county. There are ten categories in which people can make nominations, recognising coaches, clubs, leagues and others involved in the game.

Anyone can nominate up until May 16 from the englandfootball.com website.

The awards recognise and celebrate the people who put their heart and soul into the grassroots game. Each County FA will select a winner for each of the categories and from those a shortlist will be made for the national winners. The winners will be people who have really made a difference and can demonstrate how they make their positive impact happen.

They behave with fairness and integrity, they create fun, safe and inclusive environments for everyone. They encourage the very best, both in themselves and in everybody around them. They have risen to overcome challenges and they make a truly positive impact in their community.

Aylesford were named club of the year for 2021 as well as projects-of-theyear after helping out in the community during the Covid pandemic.

Their chairman James Fuller said at the time it was “just the best recognition” following so much hard work at the club.

Coaches Jo Treharne (Canterbury Old Bags) and Simon Ryan (Swanscombe Tigers) were also among those recognised while the Kent FA additionally awarded the Colin Boswell Young Referee Award to Josh Williams. Check out the 2021 winners.

The award categories for 2022 are: Grassroots Coach of the Year for Youth, Grassroots Coach of the Year for Adults, Grassroots Club of the Year, Grassroots League of the Year, Grassroots Volunteer of the Year, Rising Star of the Year, Grassroots Grounds Team of the Year, Grassroots Project of the Year, Grassroots Match Official of the Year, The Spirit of Grassroots Football Awards.