Emma Bowell
Story:
I became Chair of Croydon Women's Football Club in 2021, after the club reformed in 2019 (having previously been one of the most successful teams in England in the 90s.) Since becoming Chair, I have secured new sponsorship for the Club, have secured an arrangement for us to play at the same ground as Croydon Men, and have arranged for the team to visit Parliament, with our honorary club president Sarah Jones MP, to celebrate winning the league in the 2021-22 season. We now have a development team for players who are new or returning to football, and our first team are at the top of the table and will be pushing for promotion again this season. My next ambition for the club is to see our first team enter Tier 6, and enter the FA Cup, and to establish a youth team so that younger players have a route through to playing.
Reason for nomination:
My love for football isn't demonstrated through a performance on a pitch, it's demonstrated through everything I do behind the scenes to help grow our club. I have secured sponsorship from national organisations and have maintained these relationships so that they return each season. I have built a relationship with our men's team that means we are now able to play at the same ground as them, giving our players better facilities and helping to showcase our sport to more people in the local area. I have helped to foster connections with our supporters, including our local MP, and have arranged for players to visit Parliament, giving them opportunities that may not otherwise have been possible. I am a passionate supporter of the women's game, and being Chair of Croydon Women's Football Club has not only given me the opportunity to help showcase and celebrate women's football even more, it has allowed me to develop new skills and to grow my confidence and make the most of new opportunities.
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