Dorset County FA were delighted to welcome a special guest to their annual Girls League and FA Girls Centre of Excellence Presentation Evening.
Wednesday 23 April 2008, saw Hope Powell, England Women’s National Coach, attend the awards evening at Purbeck School.
The packed audience on the evening, compiled of Centre of Excellence and League Players, along with their Parents and Guardians, and Club representatives.
The evening began with an introduction from Sue Hough (Dorset FA Chief Executive), highlighting the glorious playing and coaching career of Hope, culminating in the efforts of the England Senior team in the World Cup in China.
The players representing the County within the Girls Centre of Excellence programme, all received a Certificate from the National Coach, and then posed for photographs with their icon.
The Players Player of the Year award followed for all four age groups. As a drum role filled the hall; Hope revealed the winners. Hope then presented the County Under 18 Women’s Players Player of the Year to Felicity Carroll.
The Girls League presentations then followed with congratulations made to all the winning teams of the respective Divisions of the Dorset Girls League. Hope presented the following teams with their winning trophies; Under 11 – Dorchester Town Youth FC, Under 12 – Dorchester Town Youth FC, Under 13 – Poole Town FC Wessex, Under 15 Division 1 – Redhill Rangers FC, Under 15 Division 2 – Twynham Rangers FC, Under 17 – Dorchester Town Youth FC.
At the conclusion of formal proceedings three of the Under 10 age group from the Centre of Excellence presented Hope with a shirt signed by all the players and also a bouquet of flowers.
Following this, Hope posed for photographs and signed autographs for the hoards of people looking for a memento of the evening.
Dorset FA would like to thank Hope for attending. A great night was had by all, and was a fitting tribute to another successful Season throughout Girls football in Dorset.