Over 300 people attended the event, at which every player received a trophy in recognition of their attendance and consistently high performances in training and matches over the season.
The awards were handed out by Nichol Forster and Rhiannon Roberts, two current Blackburn Rovers Ladies first team players, who themselves are a product of the Centre of Excellence programme.
As well as the individual awards, a set of special Merit Awards and Players’ Player trophies were presented to the following players in each age group:
U-10: Players’ Player: Ella Hutchings. Merit Award: Annabel Mayson & Holly Middleton
U-12: Simone Keating. Megan Taylor & Thea Mallet
U-14: Chantelle Mellor. Helen Duckett & Hannah Williamson
U-16: Hannah Griffiths. Hannah Griffiths & Rachel Foxley
Goalkeeper: Justine Elliott
The following players, who will now be moving into the senior game, received a Graduation Award for completing five years of Centre of Excellence training: Becky Goulding, Abbie Hart, Marsha Banks, Hannah Griffiths and Jasmine Elliott.
This year also saw the introduction of an International Recognition Award, for players who attended any international event. Keira Walsh and Millie Beaman received such honours for being selected by the England U-15 squad.
The final award was the Overall Achievement Trophy, which went to an individual who has made significant progress in the game. This year’s winner was Keira Walsh, who has performed at a high level for the Centre all season and was subsequently recognised by England last October.
She has since been selected in every England U-15 training camp and made her international debut in a 1-1 draw against Holland. By the end of the season, Keira had achieved two international caps at the tender age of just 12!
Pictured (top) Blackburn Rovers Centre of Excellence U-12s, (right) Keira Walsh and Millie Bearman receive their trophies from Rovers’ Matt Johnston.
