FORMER England and Tottenham Hotspur defender Ledley King presented mementoes as Essex FA welcomed volunteers, coaches, referees, clubs, leagues, partners and community football champions to Colchester United FC on Friday 5th June for their annual Awards Evening.

The event was a special celebration to recognise the people who make football happen around the county every week, bringing together representatives from across the grassroots game to honour outstanding contributions to Essex football. It shined a spotlight on the dedication, enthusiasm and commitment which helps thousands of players to enjoy the game in local communities.

Among the recipients was Paringdon Lions Under 8 coach, Finley Cunningham.

A spokesperson for Paringdon said: “Our Junior Coach Finley Cunningham, was awarded highly commended at the Essex FA grassroots awards in the category ‘Young Volunteer of the Year’, which recognises the outstanding contribution made by young volunteers to grassroots football. The award acknowledges dedication, commitment and the positive impact volunteers have within their clubs and local communities.

“We are incredibly proud of this recognition. It reflects the considerable time, effort and enthusiasm that he has devoted to supporting grassroots football.

Finley started his own footballing journey with Paringdon Youth FC before moving on to play for Ware United at the start of this season.

“He wanted to give something back to the club that started him on his footballing journey, so decided to become Junior coach of the U8’s team and currently juggles his own playing commitments with that of coaching an U8’s team”.

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Guests were treated to an inspiring evening of recognition and reflection, and legendary Premier League player King shared stories from his distinguished playing career whilst offering valuable insights on leadership, teamwork and personal development. He was keen to emphasise the importance of grassroots football, role models and volunteers in his own journey.

He commented: “I remember joining my first grassroots team at probably seven or eight years old, and the first thing I remember was just loving the fact that I was part of a team, part of a group that trained together, that got on so well and kind of grew together. I loved my grassroots time. It’s something that I was lucky enough to be able to do for five or six years. I always think it’s really, really important – the grounding of young boys and girls in grassroots football.”

“I was lucky enough to have some very good coaches at Senrab. It was actually five of us that went on to become Premier League players. Then, of course, your parents, and what they instilled into you as well. Just having the right people around you at an early age can make a huge difference. My message would be to keep doing the great work that you’re doing. You’re making a huge difference to people’s lives and bringing people together.”

A key part of the evening was the presentation of Long Service Awards, recognising individuals who have dedicated 20, 30 and even 40 years of service to grassroots football. Their commitment has helped to create opportunities for generations of players, coaches, referees and volunteers throughout Essex.

The evening also celebrated the achievements of the Essex County FA Youth Forum, recognising the young volunteers who are helping to shape the future of football across the county through their ideas, expertise and leadership. Awards were presented across three major categories:

• Volunteering in Football and Refereeing Awards: celebrating individuals reaching significant milestones of 20, 30 and 40 years of service
• Provider of the Year Awards: recognising organisations delivering exceptional recreational opportunities through programmes including Wildcats, Squad Girls, Comets and Just Play
• Grassroots Football Awards presented by Howdens: where more than 300 nominations were received across twelve categories, recognising outstanding contributions from coaches, referees, volunteers, clubs and leagues

The evening concluded with a celebration of all nominees, finalists and winners, reflecting the strength, diversity and dedication of the grassroots community. The event also featured a charity raffle for event supporters Hospital Radio Chelmsford, with generous prize donations from local partners, including a signed Sir Geoff Hurst shirt provided by GoCardless.

Speaking after the event, Lana Gillard, Volunteer Development Officer at the Essex County FA, explained: “The time, energy and dedication that thousands of volunteers give to the game is immeasurable. It’s important to celebrate and thank those individuals who are truly making a difference to the grassroots game in our county.”

“Our Awards Evening is one of the highlights of the local football calendar because it provides an opportunity to recognise the incredible people who work tirelessly behind the scenes to make football possible. Every nominee, finalist and winner should be immensely proud of the positive impact they have on communities across the county.”

We would like to thank everyone who attended, the partners for their continued support, and every volunteer, coach, referee and club official who gives their time to help football thrive across the county. To learn more about volunteering opportunities in local football, browse the ‘Volunteers’ menu above and follow us on social media.