Tag Archives: Khadija Shaw

The 2024 Armstrong Projects Northwest Football Awards

The winners of the Armstrong Projects Northwest Football Awards (NWFA) 2024 have been revealed. 500 esteemed guests from across the footballing world attended the star-studded event, hosted by broadcasters Eilidh Barbour and Dion Dublin, at The Point at Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester. Winners were crowned in a range of player categories, alongside accolades for clubs, communities, and unsung heroes.

Jan Lyons, Margaret Shepherd and Margaret Whitworth, Manchester Corinthians at the North West Football Awards 2024

After another phenomenal season, Manchester City once again took centre stage, with Phil Foden named Premier League Player of the Season and Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw earning the Women’s Player of the Season title for the second consecutive year. Manchester City teammate Khiara Keating was recognised as the Women’s Rising Star. For the red side of Manchester, Kobbie Mainoo collected the Men’s Rising Star award, capping off a sensational campaign for the England international. 

In a heartfelt tribute, Ian Rush MBE was honoured with The Maurice Watkins CBE Lifetime Contribution Award, while the Billy Seymour Impact Award was presented to Joe Thompson for his continued inspirational impact on the footballing world.

Burnley FC Women’s Kirstie Levell was named Women’s Player of the Season for The FA Women’s National League, while Liam Lindsay, of Preston North End Football Club took home the Championships Player of the Season further showcasing talent in the Northwest region.

The community-focused aspect of football was also celebrated, with Everton in the Community retaining the title of Premier League Community Club of the Season, and Foundation 92 being recognised as the Community Club of the Season for all other leagues. 

A special moment of acknowledgement came with the presentation of the Special Recognition Award for Services to Women’s Football to the legendary Manchester Corinthians, a club that has paved the way for generations of women in football.

You can find out more on the Corinthians across this website, but here’s their reaction to the award on the night:

#NWFA2024 Award Success: Manchester Corinthians

Laura Wolfe, owner of the Armstrong Projects Northwest Football Awards, said: “What an incredible night. The talent on show this year, both on and off the pitch, continues to highlight the Northwest as a powerhouse of football. Congratulations to all the winners, finalists, and everyone who makes these awards so special – we have proved yet again that the power of the footballing community has the ability to bring the region together and we look forward to seeing clubs continue to make a positive difference.” 

The awards not only celebrate footballing excellence but also honour the efforts of those working behind the scenes, with accolades such as the Fabrice Muamba Award for Outstanding Service to Football Medicine & Performance, which went to Ian Liversedge, and the Unsung Hero Award, which was presented to Dr Danielle Prescott.

Armstrong Projects’ Chris Hamlett added: “The Northwest Football Awards are a unique opportunity to champion the exceptional work being done across all levels of football in our region. Congratulations to all the winners and everyone involved in making this evening such a success.”

Armstrong Projects Northwest Football Awards 2024 – Full Winners List:

Community Initiative of the Season – Premier League (in association with the PFA) – Burnley FC in the Community – Academy in the Community

Community Initiative of the Season – All other Leagues (in association with the PFA) – Carlisle United Community Sports Trust – Komatsu Climate Heroes (HIGHLY COMMENDED)

 – Morecambe FC Community Foundation – Veterans Project 

Community Club of the Season – All other Leagues (in association with the PFA) – Foundation 92

Community Club of the Season – Premier League (in association with the PFA) – Everton in the Community

Women in Football Promoting Inclusion Award – Burnley FC in the Community – Interfaith Partnership with Building Bridges Burnley (HIGHLY COMMENDED)

 – Cerebral Palsy United Football Club (Non-League Winner) 

– Manchester United Foundation – Inclusive Reds (League Winner)

Best Club Marketing/Sponsorship or Engagement Campaign – Morecambe Football Club – Season Ticket Campaign

Business and Professional Services to Football – Foudys (HIGHLY COMMENDED) – Saffery

Fan Media, Channel or Podcast of the Season – The Redmen TV

Northwest Football Broadcaster of the Season – Giulia Bould – BBC Radio Merseyside and BBC Sport

Northwest Football Journalist of the Season – David Ornstein – The Athletic

Unsung Hero Award – Dr Danielle Prescott

Rising Star – Kobbie Mainoo – Manchester United Football Club

Women’s Rising Star – Khiara Keating – Manchester City Women’s Football Club

Player of the Season – National League – James Norwood – Oldham Athletic AFC

Player of the Season – League Two – Fraser Horsfall – Stockport County Football Club

Player of the Season – League One – Sam Tickle – Wigan Athletic Football Club

Player of the Season – Championship – Liam Lindsay – Preston North End Football Club

Player of the Season – Premier League – Phil Foden – Manchester City Football Club

Women’s Player of the Season – Barclays WSL & Barclays Women’s Championship – Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw – Manchester City Women’s Football Club

Women’s Player of the Season – The FA Women’s National League – Kirstie Levell – Burnley FC Women

Manager of the Season – Dave Challinor – Stockport County Football Club

Women’s Manager of the Season – Matt Beard – Liverpool Football Club Women

Billy Seymour Impact Award – Joe Thompson

Fabrice Muamba Award for Outstanding Service to Football Medicine & Performance (in association with the FMPA) – Ian Liversedge

The Maurice Watkins CBE Lifetime Contribution Award – Ian Rush MBE

Special Recognition Award for Services to Women’s Football – Manchester Corinthians

For more information, visit: www.northwestfootballawards.com

About the Armstrong Projects Northwest Football Awards:

The Armstrong Projects Northwest Football Awards is an annual event that recognises and celebrates footballing excellence in the Northwest region. From grassroots to elite level, the awards highlight the outstanding achievements and contributions of individuals, clubs, and communities within the footballing community.

An Old Trafford First

On this day (19 November) in 2023 Old Trafford staged its first Manchester Derby in the Women’s Super League. A crowd of 43,615 watched City defeat United 3-1 after the Reds had taken the lead.

The United goal came from a Katie Zelem’s penalty, given for handball against the Reds’ former captain Alex Greenwood, despite the Blues being in control for much of the match.

Two goals in a little over a minute from Jill Roord first and then Lauren Hemp (see photo) inflicted United’s first Women’s Super League defeat of the season. It also lifted City above the Reds. Khadija Shaw added a third for City in the second half, by charging down the goalkeeper Mary Earps’ clearance, before City’s Laia Aleixandri was sent off for a second yellow for pulling back Lucía García.

It was a wonderful victory for the Blues who had been keen to face United at Old Trafford in earlier seasons. However, according to journalist Suzy Wrack: ‘United have waited to play a derby at Old Trafford until the performance gap between the six‑year-old club and their neighbours, the 2016 WSL champions and regular contenders, was a little smaller. They have played four times at Old Trafford, against West Ham twice, Everton and Aston Villa, before breaking the club’s attendance record for the visit of City on Sunday with 43,615 fans present.’

This was not a record for the women’s Manchester derby however, as that had been set on 11 December 2022 when 44,259 had watched City and United play out a 1-1 draw at the Etihad Stadium.

After the game City boss Gareth Taylor spoke to the media: ‘There’s a huge feeling of pride playing like we did in such a big spectacle. When you turn up to Old Trafford and there is a huge crowd there, it is a completely different game to any other normal WSL game.

‘I thought the two goals we scored in the first half were actually the hardest chances, there were some easier ones [not taken]. So yeah work for us to do still but credit to the players.

‘We were thrown into another situation again with another red card. We can’t have too many complaints about it, but we are prepped for those situations now. Fair play to the players that came on, they helped us to manage the game and helped us to nullify any chances United had. “

United defender Hannah Blundell commented: ‘Against the run of play we got the penalty, then the disallowed goal spurred them on and let them have momentum and we need to figure out how to switch that.We will come back stronger and I know we will with this team. We have a lot of players who can put in the performance and there is a togetherness in this team.’