London FA are proud to announce that the winner of Coach of the Year (Female Pathway), sponsored by Panini, for the 2024 Grassroots Heroes Awards is Richard Siaw!

Richard Siaw is Head of Womens and Girls’ football at Balham FC after beginning the girls' section with just one team in 2017. Richard runs and attends the majority of the women and girls’ training, from U10s all the way to Senior Womens. Recently, he has introduced futsal opportunities to the Balham girl's section. Richard is also heavily involved in the Wandsworth district schools team for girls, organising the girls' team for Wandsworth youth games and running Wildcats and Squad sessions in the local area. It is due to both his roles at Balham FC and Wandsworth district that Richard is now in the process of setting up an Inner London Schools team for secondary school girls. Richard has now also joined the London FA Council and Women & Girls Advisory Board.

Richard has created an environment at club level for girls to enjoy local football, where they can develop their skills and play competitive football in a creative style. He also encourages girls to look towards coaching and referee courses to help keep them interested in the game. He has changed the girls match shirts to change from short to long sleeves so that any potential players who require skin to be covered can feel comfortable and part of the team. Richard has also secured with the club for girls' fees to be lowered, to encourage higher participation and lower obstacles for girls, as well as higher quality training venues for girls.

Richard devotes so much time to football in an entirely voluntary basis, there isn't a day in the week where he isn’t running at least one activity or session. Richard is constantly striving to add more age groups to the girls' section, aiming to mirror the boy's pathway. He is dedicated in getting girls involved in football at school level and in non-competitive sessions. Richard is raising awareness and standards of girls' football across the borough.

Congratulations to Richard and Balham FC!