Nottinghamshire FA celebrate the grassroots heroes who have been keeping football going
throughout the pandemic season, by awarding the 2021 FA’s Grassroots Awards.

These grassroots heroes have been serving their communities during the last season in
inspiring ways to ensure participants of all ages have been able access their favourite sport
in what has been the most challenging season’s on and off the field of play. Each year the
grassroots community are asked to nominate individuals they feel have gone above and
beyond in their service to the game. Once the nominations have been submitted
Nottinghamshire FA’s judging panel which for this year’s awards was made up exclusively of
the county’s Youth Council review all the nominations and select the winners who have
inspirational stories.

The winners of the awards will be the guests of the FA at the forthcoming FA Community
Shield supported by McDonalds match between Leicester City and Manchester City at
Wembley Stadium, 7 th August 5pm Kick Off. Alongside the FA Community Shield all the
winners will be invited to a flagship Nottinghamshire FA event to be presented with their
awards. The full list of winners are as follows:

Grassroots Project of the Year:      Aidan Brown (Men United)
Grounds Team of the Year:            Neil Martin (Moorgreen Colts)    
Rising Star of the Year                   Joel Lemare (Edwalton Cavaliers)
Grassroots League of the Year:      Young Elizabethan League

The Spirit of Grassroots Football Award: David Lilley (Nottingham FC)
Grassroots Coach of the Year:      Craig Barker (Toton United)
Grassroots Coach of the Year:      Damon Giles (Kirkby Woodhouse)
Grassroots Volunteer of the Year: Lionel Thursby (Tuxford Youth)
Grassroots Match Official of the Year: Gavin Rice
Grassroots Club of the Year:       Phoenix FC

Kylee Hearn who was proud to nominated David Lilley for the Spirit of Grassroots Award
highlight’s the inspirational efforts,

‘My son was quite nervous and took a while for him to get confidence but now he is doing so
well and has a great future ahead of him. We couldn’t have got we’re we are without David
as a coach and all he has done for us. This has been a step in a new direction for a great
future for my son’

On being informed on winning his award David, who has been an active coach within the
grassroots game throughout the county and currently coaching at Nottingham FC, states,

‘That’s amazing! I’ve never won anything like this before so thank you very much. Massively
appreciated’

Elaine Oram, Chief Executive Officer at Nottinghamshire FA reflects on the awards and the
grassroots season,

‘This year we have seen more nominations for each category than in the previous years and
being able to reward our grassroots heroes in what has been their hardest season is a great
pleasure. These individuals and the whole football workforce contribute many hours to the
game and without them there simply wouldn’t be an opportunity to play, coach, referee or
volunteer. Everyone at Nottinghamshire FA are proud of their achievements.’

For more information on the awards and how to play, coach, referee or volunteer in
grassroots football please check www.nottinghamshirefa.com or email
info@nottinghamshirefa.com