This award is for the young ladies amongst us that have gone above and beyond, over come adversity and or
are a role model. Those that embody the ethos of Rainford Ladies Athletic, RESPECT, SUPPORT, INSPIRE.
“RESPECT one another and those around us, embracing values that are important to all. SUPPORT each other
to be the best we can be, both on and off the pitch. INSPIRE each other to continually improve as players,
coaches, volunteers and supporters.”
AWARD NOMINATIONS 2023/24
Under 9 Barca – Olivia Wainwright
Olivia has not had the opportunity to play as often as she would have liked. Both her mum, Heather, and her nan have suffered health issues that have made it difficult for Olivia to attend training or match days at Hightown throughout the season. Despite this, Olivia has turned up with the biggest smile on her face, engaged and embraces her teammates, brought happiness to coaches and parents on the sidelines, and gave her all when she crossed the white lines. Olivia has been a doting daughter throughout her Mum’s health issues ensuring she was well cared for, loved, and cherished. Olivia deserves this award for living the values of the Standing Tall Foundation, smiling in the face of adversity, and being a light in the lives of people around her, all while giving her best for her teammates on and off the pitch.
Under 11 Inter – Gracie-Lee Goulding
Gracie has played for our team since it formed when they were 7 years old. She has always been a fantastic character, and in her early footballing career she sometimes struggled with focus and in game instructions. She was diagnosed with ADHD and has since grown and grown as a young lady and a player. She has overcome her difficulties, and they are barely unrecognisable. She is such a great kid, who really cares about the game, her development, and the team. She is like a mini mother figure amongst the players, always plays with a smile on her face and has become an absolutely brilliant player in the process. She is a massive credit to her family and the team.
Under 12 Barca -Ella Speed
This season Ella started the season with some health issues where it was difficult for her to breath when playing football. However, she turned up to training and match despite this. Even when we only had just enough players she would play, and she made sure she gives everything she could. Ella did all this in her first season playing with us and also playing a year up.
Under 12 Inter – Pippa Jones
Pippa has had a difficult year outside of football with the transition to secondary school this year. Despite this, she leads by example for all of our girls. She is the captain, as picked by the girls themselves. She is the first to check on the girls if they are hurt or unsure of something. She supports and encourages them both on and off the pitch, always with a smile on her face. If we have a new player, she is the first to include them and help them feel welcome and included where she can. She is also eager to learn, stepping into a new position herself she is at training early every week, asks questions and works on her football in her own time. She is a true leader on and off the pitch.
Under 14 – Ava Jones
For the many years Ava has played in our team she has been such a brilliant role model and example to the girls. She is so respectful to me, and the other coaches and she is so supportive of the other girls in and off the pitch with many words of encouragement when girls make a mistake and praise when they do something well. She is an absolute credit to our team and the club. She is a great player too, and as our vice-captain has always done a very good job stepping up when our captain isn’t available.
Under 16 – Mia Holland
The U16’s nomination for the Standing Tall Foundation is a young lady who we have observed on her footballing and personal journey with fondness and pride since she joined us two seasons ago. The circumstances surrounding this nomination are incredibly personal and so prior to nominating her, we asked her permission to do so. Even the majority of her teammates who she’s very close to and loved by don’t know about the battles she’s faced. We were delighted that not only did she agree to allow us to nominate her she also agreed to explain her situation in her own words. In fact, she felt compelled to do so, telling her mum she really wanted to tell people how Rainford Ladies Athletic have helped her. The following are her own very brave and understated words:
I’ve always found life very challenging. When I was in primary school I was diagnosed with anxiety. It impacted my life in so many ways. It has prevented me from being able to go out with my friends. I even struggled to manage 5 lessons in a school day. That was a very low point in my life and every day has been a battle since.
Joining Rainford Ladies Athletic has completely changed my life. Phil and my team have got me through some of the toughest parts in my life and I certainly know I wouldn’t be the person I am today without them.
A few months before I joined Rainford Ladies as an under 15 player I found out my grandma had been diagnosed with a cancer that could not be cured. The one thing she wanted me to do was to finally be confident enough to join a “proper football team” as she loved watching videos, I would show her of me playing, knowing I love the game.
Within a few weeks of being diagnosed she passed away. This was one of the toughest things I have gone through, magnified by my anxiety, but I was determined to stick to my promise to her and within a few months, with the help of my mum and dad, I found and joined RLA.
When I joined I had absolutely no confidence. I would barely speak to anyone both at football and at school.
Playing football has been the one thing I’ve never given up on and the one thing that gets me through my week. Being part of the team and being able to focus on playing and training helps me manage my anxiety and also reduces the symptoms.
That’s why when at the start of this season when I sustained quite a severe back injury that would set me back for most of the season. I was devastated. I didn’t know how I would manage as football is quite literally my sanity and without it, I thought I would find myself back to how I was before. However, I realised that no matter how much I got upset over it nothing was going to change. I decided to use this to fuel me to return faster.
I put in lots of work with my physio, extra training at home and pushed myself to my limit. I managed to get myself fit and able to play. I started back playing reduced game time and have built myself up until I’ve been able to play my first full game for the team. I was awarded Coaches Girl of the Game.
Football has also had so many impacts off the pitch for me. I can now complete every single lesson with ease every day and have the confidence to do so much more than before like going out on a weekend and completing my GCSE PE practical in football against 15 boys.
I now am able to think about the future. When I’m older I want to pursue a career in women’s sport whether that’s through coaching or physio etc as I would like to impact other people’s lives in the same way that football and Rainford Ladies Athletic has impacted mine. It’s something I’ll be forever grateful of.
WELL DONE TO ALL OUR NOMINEES
Andy and the Standing Tall Foundation are not only a friend of Rainford Ladies, but a supporter of our club values and our ethos to RESPECT, SUPPORT and INSPIRE. The foundation sponsors one of our matchday kits and is supporting us in many other ways.
The Standing Tall Foundation is a charity based in St Helens, founded in 2020 by Andy Reid MBE and John F Tabern MSc. We promote the mental health and physical wellbeing of all community groups, by providing free professional support and services.
MISSION STATEMENT
- The Standing Tall Foundation promote the mental and physical health of all community groups, through the provision of counselling, addiction support and physical activity initiatives. We further extend this support into the community to help those in financial hardship, including the homeless, via the provision of grants, items and services using the resources secured by the Foundation or those made available to us.
CHARITY OBJECTIVES
- To promote the physical and mental health of the public through the provision of (but not limited to) counselling, drug and alcohol dependency support and physical activity initiatives.
- To relieve poverty among the homeless or those in financial need through the provision of grants, items and services to individuals in need. Charity Number: 1197446
For more information on what they have to offer please visit their website www.standingtallfoundation.org.uk
WELL DONE TO ALL OUR NOMINEES.
