The Wes Greenhalgh Volunteer of the Year Award
While our recent two-night presentation at the Brewdog Stadium was packed with smiles and trophies for all of our fantastic age groups, these moments stood entirely still.
At Rainford Ladies Athletic, we know our club simply could not function without the selflessness of our volunteers. They juggle jobs, families, and their own personal demands, yet they still show up to create a safe, competitive, and joyful environment for our girls.
This year, we were incredibly proud to present our new award: The Wes Greenhalgh Volunteer of the Year Award. This accolades recognises an individual who has stepped far above and beyond what is expected of them, embodying the very heart and soul of RLA.
To understand the weight of this award, you have to understand the legacy of the man it is named after. Wes Greenhalgh was a coach for our Under 9s team. He was not just a fantastic coach, but a truly beautiful human being—if you got to know Wes, your life was better for it. He loved being a coach, he adored coaching his team, and above all, he loved coaching his daughter, Delilah. He fiercely loved this club and everything we stood for.
Tragically, Wes lost his battle against cancer. Anyone who observed him fighting to continue and persevere while being so ill was deeply, truly moved. He continued to coach, attend games, and run training sessions despite his failing health, and he did it all with a massive smile on his face. He epitomised what it means to go above and beyond. That is why this award bears his name, and why winning it is so deeply special.
This year’s deserving winner is Josh Troops.
Josh was nominated in recognition of the incredible support, encouragement, and positivity he has shown throughout the season. Earlier in the year, a player joined the squad having completely lost her confidence. From the very beginning, Josh welcomed her with open arms, made her feel instantly included, and took her under his wing. Thanks to his patience and belief, her confidence and ability have soared.
Josh has navigated a lot within the team this year, yet he has never once let it affect his relationship with the girls or his coaching. He is a deeply kind, passionate person who teaches the squad the most important life skills football can offer: resilience, determination, and ambition. He regularly goes above and beyond, even stepping up in the interim to take over a third Under 9s team just to ensure more local girls got the chance to play.
Above all else, Josh believes football isn’t just about winning; he believes that the more girls we get playing, the more we all win. He advocates for his players fiercely, keeps them in mind even when he is away on holiday (always bringing them back a present!), and makes every sibling and parent feel part of the RLA family. He even regularly puts his own physical safety at risk when the girls pressure him into doing cartwheels!
Josh has built a wonderful team where every single girl feels comfortable being exactly who they are. Congratulations, Josh—Wes would be incredibly proud.
