Haringey celebrates its sporting stars
Monday 1 December 2008
Their male counterparts may be the household names, but last night it was Tottenham Hotspur Ladies who were taking the plaudits after winning two awards at the borough’s biggest sporting celebration.
Haringey Council’s Celebrating Sport Awards at Alexandra Palace on Wednesday 26 November saw the borough’s best sports performers, most committed coaches and most dedicated volunteers recognised for their efforts throughout the year.
It was the second time Haringey had staged the awards, set up to promote sports activity and excellence in the run-up to the London 2012 Olympics.
Tottenham Hotspur Ladies won both the Club of the Year and Adult Team of the Year titles after winning the London and South East Regional League last season.
Other winners included a young karate star, a badminton coach, a netball team and a football side for children with Asperger Syndrome.
More than 100 people attended the evening, with entertainment provided by Haringey Young Musicians Steel Orchestra and an appearance by Tottenham Hotspur defender Vedran Corluka.
Cabinet Member for Leisure, Culture and Lifelong Learning, Cllr Dhiren Basu, said:
“This was a really successful event. It was a privilege to meet so many different people from different backgrounds who are all committed to making Haringey a borough of sporting excellence.
|back to top“I’d like to congratulate all of the winners and all those who were shortlisted for these awards. I hope other residents will be inspired by their dedication and success.”
Award winners
Volunteer of the Year: Ivor Chapman
Ivor is currently the press and publicity manager for Tottenham Hotspur Ladies Football Club. Ivor was asked eight years ago if he would like to help publicise ladies football. From that day on his presence at the club has had a profound affect on its development and success.
Sports Performer of the Year: Sacha Corbin
Sasha is an under-20 England netball representative, having played for her county for a number of years. She was been a member of the Troy Netball Club for 12 years and now plays for her university.
Junior Sports Performer of the Year: Whitney Rose
Whitney has competed in karate for the last four years, where she has been fighting at both national and international level, gaining honours at the highest level for her age and weight. She is dedicated to her sport, with training session 4 to 5 times a week while also attaining top grades in her academic studies. She has attended the 2008 Commonwealth and English Championships among other competitions.
Coach of the Year: Leon Mitchall
Leon has established badminton within the borough from nothing through hard work and determination. Haringey now has three Badminton Academies, with the development of a schools programme currently underway. His hard work has continually paid off - the Haringey Badminton Youth Games team has maintained top 5 status over the past three years and won this year’s Youth Games.
Disabled Coach of the Year: Gareth Jones
Gareth started working in the borough as a Sports Volunteer at Haringey Mencap in June 2006. He quickly became an inspirational and motivational member of the Mencap team and moved into paid employment as a coach and support worker. He achieved a Sports Leaders Award Tutor qualification and FA Coaching level 2 earlier this year, and has now taken up a full time post at Tottenham Hotspur Foundation as the Coordinator for the Reach to Teach project.
Junior Volunteer of the Year: Charlie McNamara
Charlie has volunteered on a variety of sports over the past three years, including the London half Marathon, London 10k and the Flora Light 5k Women’s Race. She also supports the Haringey Disability Programme and was instrumental in obtaining a sizeable grant for two Haringey clubs - Troy Netball and Haringey Sports Development.
Junior Disabled Volunteer of the Year: Reece Dean
Reece volunteers at The Vale school to help develop their football team, with the programme working in partnership with the Haringey Extended Schools Football Project. The team recently played their first match against Haringey Sixth Form. He is soon to undertake his FA Level 1 course with the Tottenham Hotspur Foundation once he has becomes 16.
Junior Team of the Year: Troy Junior Netball Squad
The Troy Junior Netball Squad have enjoyed an amazing year. Achievements include winning the under 16s North London Netball Junior Autumn Rally, five of the squad’s players being picked for the under 16s Middlesex County Satellite Academy and others being selected to play in the European Championships and for regional training.
Junior Disabled Team of the Year: The Vale School
Pupils from The Vale School have a range of physical disabilities and associated special educational needs. They compete in boccia, football and athletics and have been the backbone of the London Youth Games disabilities team for the past five years. The team has represented London in Blackpool for a national athletics event and compete in borough athletics events with in excess of 40 medals under their belt.
Adult Team of the Year: Tottenham Hotspur Ladies
After an 11-year wait, the first team produced a magnificent seven match winning streak in the closing weeks of the season that saw them win the London & South East Regional League. That secured the club’s promotion to Level 3 of the Women’s FA Pyramid, in the shape of the FA Women’s South East Combination. The team, the vast majority of whom are still in their teens, were voted the ‘Most Sporting Team’ by the League officials - a rare occurrence for a league-winning side.
Adult Disabled Team of the Year: Awesome Lane Hotspur Football Club
Awesome Lane was developed through the Football Association’s Ability Counts Programme, demonstrating partnership working at its best as Haringey Autism, Haringey Mencap Limited and Tottenham Hotspur Foundation formed the team together. The club provides sporting and social pathways for children aged six to 13 years who have Asperger Syndrome. This club is unique within disability football and has been used as an example of best practice by the Premier League Annual Review in the past.
Club of the Year: Tottenham Hotspur Ladies Football Club
The Tottenham Hotspur Ladies Football Club is financed by its players and sponsorship, with all staff (coaches through to administration) being volunteers. 21 girls from the club’s football development programme were chosen to represent the FA Centre of Excellence across the London and South East Region. It has recently been awarded the FA Charter Standard Award for girls/women’s football due to its support and development of women’s football in the region.
Sporting School of the Year (joint award): Woodside High School
Woodside High have continually increased the amount of PE being undertaken within curriculum time. It is now at least two hours a week and this has led to increased examination results. The school has undertaken an extensive amount of work with their family of primary schools, with all schools now hitting two hours of PE within curriculum time each week. The Woodside under 15 & 16 teams currently play in the Cheshunt Youth League for the Haringey Borough Football Club each Sunday, with four teachers volunteering their time to supervise.
Sporting School of the Year (joint award): Lordship Lane Primary
Lordship Lane Primary has seen their sporty student’s academic achievements increase significantly, showing a direct link between physical activity and academic achievement. The school gives its pupils the chance to access a wide and varied range of sporting activities including boxing, yoga, athletics, football and tennis, to name a few. The school has lunchtime and after-school clubs and enter into all inter-school competitions. Three children are receiving coaching at Tottenham Hotspur and Charlton Athletic Football Clubs and are members of the Haringey Athletics Club.
Notes
- Other Haringey Council initiatives to support sporting excellence and activity include a Sports Scholarship scheme, where the most highly talented young sports people in the borough can receive council funding of up to £1,500, along with coaching advice and pastoral support, to help them fulfil their potential.
- The council also runs an Active Juniors scheme, offering discounts at all of its leisure facilities to young people attending schools in the borough.
- Photo shows a group photo of all the winners at the Celebrating Sport Awards ceremony last week.
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