A volunteer from Hobart, a young coach from Melbourne, and an online news site specialising in women’s football are the inaugural recipients of the Women in Football Awards in 2021.
The Women in Football Awards were introduced to celebrate the achievements of women who are involved in football in a range of capacities, and to encourage and inspire others also.
“We thought it was important to recognise the many tens of thousands of people who help to make football tick week-in, week-out, at grassroots clubs and elsewhere.
“Often, such people are taken for granted but they are incredibly valuable to their club, the sport and our community and it’s important to recognise their efforts and accomplishments.”
The three winners are:
– Volunteer of the Year: Sandra Roberts, South Hobart Football Club
– Emerging Leader Award: Aish Ravi, Bentleigh Cobras Football Club, Bayside Futsal Social
– Media Award: Beyond 90
Recipients of certificates of distinction were also named in the Volunteer and Emerging Leader categories.
The Women in Football Awards ceremony was originally scheduled to take place as part of a community football tournament this coming weekend on the Central Coast, north of Sydney, which was cancelled due to the Covid lockdowns.
Instead, the winners are announced via a series of short videos produced by Flix Productions of Adelaide, and with two of the videos narrated by Simon Hill of Paramount Plus.
“The Women in Football Awards are a way of showing people that the many volunteer hours they spend in football are appreciated and admired.
“We believe the inaugural award winners are incredibly deserving of their respective awards, and we hope it inspires and motivates others to contribute to their local club or other football activity to their full potential also.”
The Women in Football Awards were created by Women in Football Australia Inc, a national member-based charity established in 2019, that aims to ensure girls and women can contribute effectively to football at the level they wish to do so. The Women in Football Awards are supported by the NSW Government’s Office of Sport.
