Nicola McKelvey

Where do I start. I've know Nicola since our children where in the same class at primary school. My daughter, Willow and her son, Felix loved football and ended up getting selected for the local football team. From the get go Nicola never once patronised Willow or questioned her place in the boys team. Instead, was one of her most fiercest cheer leaders. Her boys also really trailing the way in accepting Willow as the human being she is rather than a "girl football player". Three years ago, after years of side line parenting we had a light bulb moment and decided to set up a local community team. The TD Sirens fc. Initially just a group of 12 ladies who wanted to kick a ball around, we grown to a group of 24, with a wait list, and won the Surrey Flexi League last year as we started to play competitively. Nicola is one of our Committee members, our FA liaison officer, league fixtures secretary and social media owner. All taking hours of her time each week, obviously unpaid. She does this for the love of the game and to support women in sport! Our football group means so much to so many, ladies going through a divorce, having parental issues, coming back from major health issues, anxiety, depression, Nicola is there for us all. In her professional life she is PR Specialist for the Women's Sport Trust. Was instrumental in the Women's Rugby World Cup in Australia, Women's Cricket World and had the pleasure of connecting Leah Williams - England Lioness & Captain, Sarah Hunter - Rugby Captain & Heather Knight OBE - England Cricket Captain together for a day of sharing and highlighting the momentum behind women's sport. You couldn't ask for a more positive and passionate nominee, both whilst raising her two young boys, in her volunteer local ladies team and in her professional career!