The winners of the Kent FA Grassroots Workforce awards have been announced.

A celebration of the individuals who make a difference to the county game took place at Gillingham’s Priestfield Stadium last Thursday evening.

Darryl Haden, chief executive of the Kent FA, said: "Thursday night was a remarkable celebration of football excellence in Kent.

“The awardees have showcased extraordinary passion, determination and values that make grassroots football in Kent so special.

“Congratulations to all our fantastic award winners and everyone who received a nomination this year.

“We congratulate all the nominees and the award winners, and look forward to another thrilling season."

It proved a successful evening for Lorraine Humm, as the head of Maidstone United Raiders collected the Keeping Football Positive and the Green Hero of the Year awards.

“Obviously, it’s a great thing for our Raiders,” said Humm.

“All of our guys have been chipping in, whether that’s with litter-picking, walking, training, cycling, bringing in their old football boots or helping to recycle kit to Morocco.

“All of our old first-aid kit also has gone to Ukraine to help everyone out there.

“It feels really good to be doing our bit for our community and the wider world.”

The female pathway Coach of the Year award winner was Hoo Vets / Hoo Youth’s Michelle Pluckrose.

She said: “It’s just nice to be recognised for all the work we put in with all the girls.

“Last season was our first season as Hoo Youth and we did really well, coming runners-up to the mighty Foots Cray. But we did absolutely fantastically.

“Some of the girls have been with us since they were Wildcats so we’re really, really proud of what they have achieved.”

Disability pathway Coach of the Year was handed to Ashford United’s Daniel Ambler.

He said: “I’m really pleased, to be honest. I didn’t expect to be up there.

“I certainly didn’t expect to be winning any awards! I’m just really proud to be coach of the year and, hopefully, we can get more people involved.

“Obviously, winning awards isn’t why we do it - we just try to get as many people involved as we can - but it’s an honour winning this.”

Weald Wolves’ Andy Ginno beat off stiff competition to take the 2024 male pathway Coach of the Year gong.

“It’s incredible,” he said. “Going back 20 years, when I had young children, it was just a kick-around on the Saturday morning.

“Some of the parents said ‘We would like to turn this into something a bit better’ so I went and did my coaching badges, a couple of the other guys joined in with me and there we were as Weald Wolves.

“Now, 20 years down the line, we have got a thriving community and a club with more than 100 members and an adult team.

“It’s fabulous. This isn’t just about me - it’s about the whole community.

“I’ve got parents that are great, the committee we put together to bring the club up, and the coaches that have come and gone.

“This year, we have got a big get-together for our 20-year anniversary because some of the older coaches are moving on.

“We just want to bring everyone together and make sure that everybody knows the club is still there, and they helped that to happen.”

Gillingham-based Anchorians were named grassroots Club of the Year.

Chairman Leigh Willis said: “It’s been phenomenal this year.

“It’s certainly been a tough couple of years for the club in terms of just trying to get more volunteers and stuff like that.

“We’ve lost a lot of committee members who, to be fair to them, had done their time.

“They have moved on as their children have stopped playing. It’s been quite a transition.

“To win this award again, we just need to extend a huge thank you to all of our volunteers who give up so much of their time to keep the club going and offering the opportunities that we do.”

Having been highly commended last year, the East Kent Youth Football League were crowned Grassroots League of the Year this time around.

League secretary Caroline Richards said: “It’s been a long time coming! We know we won the first-ever (Kent FA) award for Charter Standard and we have been working hard to win the league award.

“So, we’re over the moon.”

Bev Latham, the league’s safeguarding, EDI and welfare officer, said: “We support the Kent FA with all the initiatives that they do.

“We back them 100% and we’re willing to try absolutely anything they want to in order to try and develop things further, with their pilots.”

Richards added: “Sometimes, that does mean losing teams here and there - but we always hope that they come back.

“We’re just doing all we can to put the players’ development first.”

Grassroots Match Official of the Year went to Chris Bright.

“It’s amazing,” enthused Sevenoaks’ Bright.

“It was unexpected but I’m just really proud to have got the award and got some recognition for some of the achievements this year.

“We have to work collaboratively with coaches, with players and those that run the clubs.

“That’s all essential, really, in order to make sure that the job gets done.”

The Colin Boswell Young Referee of the Year award gong was given to Harrison Clark, who is from Herne Bay.

Clark, 18, said: “I’m very happy.

“I just go out every weekend to do my job at the end of the day.

“It’s nice to get the recognition but I’m only 18 and I know there were a lot of other candidates for the award, so I really do appreciate receiving the award.”

The recognition comes with Clark making rapid progress up the referee’s Club Mark system last term.

“I have got a lot of people around me that do assist me,” he added.

“There’s people like Nick (Dunn, the Kent FA’s referee development lead). A lot of people offer help towards me and I’m just happy that I can put their guidance to good use.”

Young Volunteer of the Year went to another successful nominee from Maidstone Raiders’ Erin Jarvis-Baker.

Upon collecting her award, the 17-year-old enthused: “This is so much for the people that I coach.

“This is amazing for them. I got into it for them.

“I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for Raiders and if it wasn’t for the people that I coach.

“I just love it and love them. They’re such a nice community.

“It’s such a huge disability club at Raiders - I think it’s one of the biggest in Kent - and I’m so proud to be part of that community.”

Bob Foy, from AFC Minster, in Sheerness, was victorious in the new Volunteer of the Year category.

Foy said: “I didn’t expect this at all!

“A few days a week, I head down there. But it does give me something to do and it’s all for the kids.

“Seeing the kids play and enjoying themselves does make it all worthwhile.

“It keeps me out of trouble. Otherwise, what would I be doing? Probably just sitting on my bum all day!”

The Lioness award went to Tony Weeks from Swanley’s AFC Green Court.

“I’m very proud, very honoured,” he said.

“Even when I got the call to say I was invited, just having made the final-three, that was more than enough recognition.

“For me, it’s just about seeing the girls come down week-in, week-out.

“I’m very proud.”

Collecting a gong for the second time in three years was Cranbrook Juniors’ Ant Tomlinson.

He won the Bobby Moore award and said: “I’m blown away!

“To be honest, I wasn’t expecting it at all. It’s always good to be shortlisted and recognised but, to win it, I’m just blown away.

“Every year, we’re here and part of it. It’s an amazing thing to be part of. We’re happy to be here - never mind walking away with something.

“That’s just an amazing bonus.”

Swanscombe Tigers got the nod as Digital Club of the Year.

Representing the club, Peter Alloway said: “I’m absolutely blown away and very surprised to be picking this up.

“I swear it probably should have been a 16-year-old - rather than me - picking up the Digital Club of the Year award! But there you go.

“I’m just absolutely gobsmacked and we really appreciate the recognition as a club.

“I do a lot of stuff for the Kent Disability League, as well, but this is about the club and not me.

“I’m just absolutely delighted to be in a room-full of absolutely amazing volunteers.

“Congratulations to everybody who is here.”

Yvonne Elder, from Herne Bay Youth, came out on top in the Welfare Hero of the Year category.

She said: “It’s really nice.

“It was nice to be nominated and even better to win it.

“I’ll be bringing this along and sharing this with everyone at our AGM this week. I have been doing this myself for five or six years now.

“We’re increasing this year from 33 teams to 35 teams so everything is going really well and I’m delighted.”

The Pitches Cup award went to Rochester’s Cuxton 91.

Club co-chairman Dan Hanshaw, accompanied at the awards event by pitch volunteer George Scott, said: “Obviously, having volunteers like George within the club, producing a pitch that’s amazing for those from under-6s up, is incredible.

“Credit to George for what he has done for us and credit to everyone else at the club.”

Scott said: “It’s a time-consuming thing - but you have the club supporting you with everything. That could be equipment, material or just whatever you need.

“It started off kind of as a passing joke. My father-in-law, who's not here tonight, but me and him would do it every Saturday.

“It was just our regular thing on a Saturday morning and we sort of made a habit of it.

“Then, it just felt good, seeing Cuxton having a good pitch every week.”

Biggin Hill JFC’s Andy Furphy took home the new Volunteer of the Year gong.

He said: “I’m very happy indeed, I wasn’t expecting it and, to be honest, wasn’t even expecting a nomination.

“But I’m very grateful to have been nominated.

“It’s been an interesting year!

“We started with 11 players in September, we’re now up to 150, we have now got under-6s, under-7s, two under-12 teams, an under-13s team, an under-15s girls’ team, and we’re soon set to start launching adult football.

“That’s excellent because we’re in an area where there was no adult football previously.”

John Lawrence and Barrie Croucher were both recognised by the Kent FA for 50 years of service.

Croucher said: “I feel very honoured and privileged to be invited to this.

“This is something that you do as a job, really. You don’t really think that you’re doing anything special.

“But to be recognised for it and for it to be shown that it’s appreciated, that just makes it all worthwhile.

“I’m really thrilled to have won this.”

Collecting the award on Lawrence’s behalf with his father unwell, Geoff said: “He’s over the moon.

“I did the nomination and he was gobsmacked.

“I went to see him beforehand, he was all dressed and ready to go but, unfortunately, he’s just too unwell. He couldn’t thank me enough.

“I played, both my brothers played, but dad would have seen hundreds and hundreds of boys come through.

“It just goes to show one man’s commitment to local football.”

The awards night was sponsored by housebuilder Bellway.

Aford Awards donated all the awards to the winners on the night while DFDS gave ferry-crossing prizes to the award winners.