HARDWICKE AFC’S devoted volunteer Veronica Parr was among dozens of individuals and organisations recognised and rewarded as Gloucestershire football’s grassroots heroes, writes Simon Parkinson.

Bristol Golf Club provided a perfect setting for the ever-popular McDonald’s-backed Gloucestershire FA Community Awards presentations, which are held annually to acclaim dedicated and hard-working people of all ages and backgrounds who make a difference to the local game.

Veronica was proud recipient of the GFA Coach of the Year gong for her “passionate work” overseeing Hardwicke’s coach education programme. Not content with that, Veronica was also named a regional winner to put her in the frame for a national award.

Described as a “great role model for younger, aspiring coaches”, Veronica leads the coach mentoring programme within Hardwicke AFC in tandem with FA coach mentor Kurt Doyle to “ensure the programme is sustainable”.

Around 100 people, including organisers and officials of Gloucestershire FA, enjoyed a buffet meal and introductory speeches before awards were distributed to delighted winners and runner-ups (highly commended) in a whole host of categories.

Among them were Tewkesbury Town Colts, who were handed the GFA Charter Standard Development Club prize for 2017 for their delivery of an FA/SSE Wildcats programme to develop the club’s fast-expanding girls’ section, currently attended by 26 players.

The gathering heard that Tewkesbury had developed links with Hartpury College to enable student placements within the Colts’ sessions and that they’d recently hosted an FA Licensed Coaches Club CPD (Continual Professional Development) event.

While Longlevens AFC, who had purchased THREE club defibrillators through a series of fundraising events, two of which were presented to other local clubs following a Twitter competition, came in highly commended, Cheltenham Powerchair FC founder member Brian Dix received the GFA Outstanding Contribution to Community Football distinction.

The award recognised his work in achieving charitable status for the club, while proving instrumental in forming a third powerchair team in Cheltenham and a new set-up in Bristol.

In partnership with the FA, Brian also delivered Powerchair Football Week in September which raised the profile of the sport in the county, while he achieved another powerchair first by live streaming a game over social media.

Brian had cause for double celebration on the night as Cheltenham Powerchair were highly commended in the GFA Charter Standard Club of the Year class for their efforts to engage with schools, community groups, care homes and various media organisations.

Top prize in that section went to Gloucester-based Widden Street Soccer, who recently became an FA Charter Standard Club offering programmes to train and mentor community-based coaches.

An appreciative audience heard that the club had supported a BAME (Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic) FA Level 1 coaching course which had been attended by 11 coaches, and that structured coaching sessions within the club were being applied.

Widden Street also entered the Mid-Glos Mini Soccer League, with more than 20 players regularly partaking in training sessions.

Meanwhile, Severn Valley Youth League chairman Ken Fagan happily received the FA Charter Standard League award on behalf of a competition which was only launched at the start of last season following a merger of Gloucester Youth and Stroud Youth leagues.

The two leagues combined their finances and offered free entry for the season to support clubs, while an under-18 division is set to be introduced for the 2017-18 campaign along with a league referee course.

GFA chief executive David Neale said: “Without the fantastic volunteer workforce, football simply would not happen.

“The time, commitment and passion shown enable Gloucestershire FA to continue to be seen as promoting best practice nationally.

“The annual awards ceremony is an event everyone associated with the Gloucestershire FA is extremely proud of.”