Community celebrate female football success
Shrewsbury Town Football Club have enjoyed a successful season on the pitch across it’s range of female teams, with teams ranging from the under 12’s Regional Talent Centre to the Shrewsbury Town Ladies team.
To celebrate the success of the season, players, parents and supporters of each age group to a celebratory event held in the Sovereign Suite within the Montgomery Waters Meadow.
All players from the Shrewsbury Town Women’s and Girl’s programme were presented with the recognition of participation. The top goalscorer award was the first individual award to be handed out, with Millie McInnes swooping the award for the under 12’s, Leah Edwards claiming the prize within the under 14’s squad, Northern Ireland international Sadie Craig taking the crown for the under 16’s and Charlotte Budd being top of the charts for Shrewsbury Town Ladies.
The supporters had their chance to vote for their player of the year award, again for each age group, for their performances over the 2017/2018 season. First up in this category were the under 12’s again, with Sophie Corns taking the prize, followed by under 14’s winner Izzy Reading, under 16’s winner Phoebe Hobbs, and ladies goalkeeper Beth Cleveley rounding off the supporters player of the year award.
The next award of the night gave players the opportunity to vote on which teammate has impressed them most to be crowned the player’s player of the year. Imogen Jarman of Shrewsbury Town Regional Talent Centre under 12’s took the prestigious title of player’s player of the year, and was joined in collecting her award by under 14’s player Alice Dermody, Hetty Arnold of the under 16’s and ladies midfielder Danniella Garrett.
The coach’s player of the year award was the next award available for all age groups, with those who have managed each age group over the course of the recent season nominating for the player that has impressed them the most. Niamh Ellison was first up to collect this award, being crowned under 12’s player of the year, Leonie Morris taking the award in the under 14’s age group, Tilly Chase winning the under 16’s prize, and Beth Francis winning the ladies player of the year award.
Shrewsbury Town Ladies also awarded a young player of the year award out on the night, recognising the contribution and development of one of the younger players within the squad, with winger Sasha Woodhouse taking the accolade for the 2017/2018 season.
Parent Cam Taylor took home the volunteer of the year award for his contribution towards the ladies team this season, including his offers of travel to make sure players got to games, and assisting as a linesman in many fixtures throughout the year.
Under 14’s head coach Andy Van Ommeren swooped in to take the 2017/2018 coach of the year award his work in developing those within the squad this year.
Speaking of the event, Womens’ and Girls officer Sian Jones said,
"Being able to celebrate the Womens' and girls teams in Shrewsbury is great! It allows everyone to recognised the effort and hard work the women and girls have put in over the season and the progressions they have made.
“It's so important to give them the recognition they deserve to keep pushing them in the right direction ensuring their morale and energy stays at a positive level for the next season and most importantly to ensure the girls enjoy playing and that they have something to play for.
“Seeing them enjoy the football they are playing just makes it a whole lot more exciting and all the work worth it!"