FA Recognition for East Riding Volunteer Mike Edge
East Riding’s very own volunteer Mike Edge was awarded with the Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to the development of Women’s Football in the County.
Earlier this month the FA announced the winners of the Women’s and Girls’ Football Participation Awards with surprise calls from current and former England players Toni Duggan, Fran Kirby, Demi Stokes and Kelly Smith.
The FA Women’s and Girls’ Football Participation Awards recognise the achievements of clubs, players, staff and the important work by volunteers at the grassroots level of the game. Two winners were selected for each category.
The winners from each award received surprise video calls from the famous faces to let them know the news and to thank them for their hard work and dedication in growing women’s and girls’ football participation.
Proud: Mike with his Lifetime Achievement Award
Receiving his award from the FA Women's and Girls' Football Participation Awards
Mike’s dedication and enthusiasm for the Women’s game is something to be admired. It is great for his dedication to women’s football to be recognised by the FA and for him to receive this award.
He learnt about his award with a surprise call from former Lioness and MBE Kelly Smith. He had no idea he had even been nominated so the call came as a complete surprise.
Watch here as Mike receives his surprise call and find out why he was nominated for this prestigious award by our Women and Girls Football Development Officer Kirsty Leake.
Mike has been involved in the female game in the East Riding for over 20 years, initially supporting the County FA with their plans around developing female football which led to the formation of the East Riding County Women’s League in 2003. Mike took on the role of Secretary when the league was created and it’s a role he still holds today, as well as being a current ERCFA Council Member.
The East Riding County Women’s League provides a competitive structure for females aged 16+ to compete in and is the only league within our County for Women’s Football.
Kirsty Leake was joined by East Riding County FA’s Chief Executive, Adam Lowthorpe to present Mike with his award.
It was a great opportunity for them both to thank him for his dedication to developing and growing Women’s football in the County and to celebrate his award with him and his wife Sylvia.
Here’s the timeline of Mike’s volunteering and the projects / initatives he has been involved in over the years:
1996 – The ERCFA formed a Women’s and Girls’ Committee. Mike volunteered to be part of it and became the Committee Secretary.
1997 – The FA required all County FA’s to submit a Women and Girls’ Development Plan. He wrote the plan as the FA didn’t have dedicated staff for women and girls football at the time.
1998 – The Girls League was launched as a stand alone league, previously it had been operated as part of the Boys League. Mike Chaired the committee for the first year to help it become established before passing on the role to focus on other roles supporting the development of female football.
2003 – Mike formed the East Riding County Women’s League, which was an objective of the development plan. He took on the role of Secretary, a role Mike still holds today.
2004 - Was instrumental in organising the North East Regional County Leagues for the FA as part of the old Women’s Pyramid review.
2006 - The New Women’s Pyramid was introduced, and Mike became the Joint Liaison Committee (JLC) Secretary.
2008 – Mike became the JLC Rep on the FA Womens Conference
Congratulations Mike from everyone at the East Riding County and thank you for all you have done and continue to do to develop female football within the County.
For more information on the awards and to see a list of all the winners click here.