Football mum inspired to coach wins regional award

An award-winning football coach says she was inspired to take up the sport by her daughter's love of the game.

Varsha Patel from Billericay, Essex, trained as a coach after seeing her daughter had no team to play for.

She has now won the Female Pathway Coach of the Year at the 2024 Grassroots Football Awards for Essex.

"It's been a bit of whirlwind but I wouldn't change it any other way," she said.

"It all started with my daughter playing a sport that she loves, who wanted to play matches but there was nobody who could be a coach for them - and I just couldn't break their hearts," the FC Redwing coach added.

"I know nothing about football, I'll be honest but I'm just learning as the girls are learning and it's absolutely fantastic."

Ms Patel is part of the Essex County FA female pathway scheme, external which was launched in the 2022/23 season to connect girls and women across Essex with an interest in coaching or refereeing.

She then progressed through the FA's level 1 coaching course, external before gaining her UEFA C licence.

"Stepping over the sidelines is so important, actually just being able to be a new coach myself and actually working for women in sport has really opened my eyes to understand the value of sport," she added.

"Giving the girls the resilience, the self belief, the courage and playing this brilliant game is absolutely amazing."

She also started working with Women in Sport, external, a charity set up to raise awareness of young girls across the country who are missing out on opportunities because of their cultural background.

Ms Patel will now be considered for the national award which will be revealed in August, where she will compete against all regional winners.

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