Awards were presented at every level of the game to clubs and individuals that go above and beyond the call of duty in honour of our beloved game. The game simply would not exist without such volunteers. An army of thousands of individuals that give up many hours of their free time every week and in some cases for a whole life time to ensure that football is played every week, for people to enjoy and be a part of.
Top of the bill was the inaugural presentation of the Derek Dooley Award for Outstanding Achievement in Grassroots Football. Sheffield & Hallamshire FA and Sheffield City Council launched the award back in early February at the Steel City Derby, in honour of Derek who was extremely passionate about all aspects of the game especially the grassroots and had himself a long and distinguished grassroots football career with various different clubs and leagues in many different roles.
The Derek Dooley Award was presented to Geoff Burgess by Cllr Jane Bird, Lord Mayor of Sheffield. Geoff has dedicated over 60 year’s service in a variety of roles not just within the City of Sheffield but for the whole area covered by the Sheffield & Hallamshire FA,
Geoff has undoubtedly made an outstanding contribution to the game starting out as a player in 1947 with Sheffield Battalion Boys Brigade and Darnall Methodist Church. Geoff also played for Enfield Land FC, and Birley Amateurs, where he met and became life long friends with Derek Dooley. Between 1968 and 1987 Geoff contributed to the game as a referee, and then a referee’s assessor.
Since 1957, Geoff has served the Wragg Over 35`s Football League in a variety of roles, he was made chairman in 2000, a position which he still holds today.
Finally Geoff was elected to the Sheffield & Hallamshire FA Council in 1975, and has served on the disciplinary, referees, cup and representative match committees. He became a board member in 2004, and currently holds position of chairman for the development committee, and Vice President of the association.
Alf Goodison, Club Secretary for Ecclesfield Red Rose for over 50 years and Stephen Hall, current Club Secretary for Sheffield FC and having achieved 35 years of service to football received high commendations awards from the Lord Mayor, Cllr Jane Bird.
James Hope-Gill Chief Executive presented the Sheffield & Hallamshire FA annual Charter Standard and Football Workforce Awards to clubs and individuals that are involved with the game in a number of roles that received nominations from their peers, to be honoured.
In addition the Sheffield & Hallamshire FA presented their Annual Groundsman of the Year Award to Paul Todd from Handsworth Junior Sporting Club
James Hope-Gill, said “Sheffield & Hallamshire FA would like to offer special congratulations to Geoff Burgess for winning the Derek Dooley Award, and to all our award winners. It is extremely important that we honour our often unsung heroes within the football community. Such awards are our opportunity to thank individuals for freely dedicating their time and effort to the game. I would like to thank the Lord Mayor of Sheffield Cllr Jane Bird and Sheffield City Council for supporting the Derek Dooley Award, and allowing us to use the prestigious venue of the Town Hall as the setting for our awards evening.”
Cllr Sylvia Dunkley, Cabinet Minister for Culture, Leisure and Streetscene from Sheffield City Council said: "Everyone who`s been here tonight for an award is, in our eyes, a winner. Their commitment and enthusiasm are the lifeblood of community football, and they throughly deserve our praise and recognition."
Full list of Award Winners
Derek Dooley Award for outstanding achievement in grassroots football
Winner
Geoff Burgess – Chairman of the Wragg Over 35`s Football League and Vice President of Sheffield & Hallamshire FA
Highly Commended
Stephen Hall – Club Secretary for Sheffield FC
Alf Goodison – Club Secretary for Ecclesfield Red Rose, Chairman of the Windsor Food Service, Sheffield & Hallamshire FA Council Member
Charter Standard Award Winners
Charter Standard Club of the Year - Middlewood Rovers
Charter Standard Development Club of the Year - Bessacarr FC
Charter Standard Community Club of the Year – Maltby Juniors
Charter Standard Coach of the Year - Stephen Gregory, Dronfield Town
Charter Standard Administrator of the Year - Nathan Batchelor
Football Workforce Winners
Mark Heeley – Club Secretary/Treasurer - Beighton Falcons
Kevin Staniland – Chairman - Worksop Town JFC
Zack Zacharkiewicz – Coach/Fundraiser - Beighton Magpies
Stephen Davies – Club Secretary - Maltby Haynook
Ian Biddle – Coach - Bessacarr FC
Chris Dennison – Club Secretary - Middlewood Rovers
Trevor Curtis – Assists with Referees training and development
James Bell – Volunteer/referee
Robert Frost – 15 year old goalkeeper for Thorne Colliery Juniors, budding young referee and coach/volunteer/fundraiser
Groundsman of the Year 2009
Paul Todd – Handsworth Junior Sporting Club
Photographs from the Derek Dooley Award and County FA Awards Presentation Evening will be available shortly at Sheffield & Hallamshire FA's new photo print website - www.sheffieldfaprintstore.com