Grassroots Heroes Awards 2024 - Altair Keeping Football Positive Award
London FA are proud to announce that the winner of the Keeping Football Positive Award, sponsored by Altair, for the 2024 Grassroots Heroes Awards is Lisa-Marie Powell!
Lisa-Marie has been the driving force behind the club’s improvement in football provision and safety, serving as a liaison between London FA’s discipline and safeguarding departments, adopting FA directives, enhancing club policies, and supporting all her players – with a special focus on ensuring SEN players are appropriately considered and safeguarded.
Lisa’s dedication extends beyond her official role, whether working in the tea hut, as first aided, standing-in as a coach, or coordinating logistics, she ensures the smooth, safe and enjoyable running of hundreds of games across 40 teams at Long Lane. Lisa's commitment to inclusivity is evident as she donates facilities to the South London Special League and has even started her own Comets Disability Football Programme.
From improving lives to saving them, her quick thinking and CPR skills recently saved a player's life, prompting her to apply for the Premier League Defibrillator Fund, adding a crucial and more accessible piece of equipment to the club's grounds. Lisa's tireless efforts epitomize a safeguarding-first approach, making Long Lane JFC a safer and more inclusive football community.
Lisa is the role model of what you would expect a volunteer to be. She engages with CPD, she works tirelessly to improve her clubs footballing provisions and offering and is devoted to fostering a safe and inclusive environment. She has shown devotion to not only the club but all the stakeholders to make football what it should be for adults and young people alike. The offering of safe, fun, positive and inclusive football provided by Lisa is what makes the beautiful game so beautiful.
Congratulations to Lisa-Marie and Long Lane JFC!