Olivia Kennedy crowned 2010 Platinum Medal winner
It was to be NSW women?s football night of nights as selected players and teams from both the Arrive alive Women?s Premier and Super League were rewarded for their tremendous efforts in 2010.
Football NSW President Jim Forrest was in attendance as were Football NSW Board Members Linda Ward and Robert Waddell as well as former Socceroo coach Rale Rasic who heaped praise on the female competitions.
The award everybody was waiting for, the Platinum Medal, was awarded to Sydney University?s hard working and inspirational midfielder Olivia Kennedy who took out the coveted prize.
Her terrific achievements for Sydney University was one of the talking points of the club?s decent showing in the Arrive ailve Women?s Premier League where the club finished fifth on the ladder.
The 22-year-old former Young Matilda who took a break from football last season only to get back into it once more in 2010 was ecstatic with her major achievement.
?I want to thank the coaching staff and players of course for making this a dream come true for me tonight.
?It was a rough start to the year for us at Sydney University but we battled hard and finished well at the end of the season but we are all working towards a goal in playing finals football in 2011.?
After capturing the evening?s major award, many would believe that Kennedy would be on the shortlists of many of the Arrive alive Women?s Premier League clubs however the current University student currently studying Nursing stated otherwise.
?I can say that I will be wearing the colours of Sydney University next year I can all assure you that.?
Away from the main prize and Inter Lions? consistent attacker Catherine Cannuli took out the ?Debbie Tait? Memorial Trophy (Golden Boot) award scoring an incredible 23 goals for the season.
The 24-year-old?s majestic performances for the Lions caught the attention of many in what was an outstanding year for the star striker.
?I couldn?t have achieved this award if it weren?t for my team members as well as the great coaching staff at Inter who all played a role in me winning this award this evening.
Cannuli has been busily preparing herself for what will be a huge end of 2010 as she currently takes part in pre-season training with W-League outfit Sydney FC.
?We?ve been training really hard these past couple of weeks but all the girls are warming up for what will be a big season for all of us involved at the club.
?Playing in the W-League is tough. You are playing against very fit, fast and physical players but that only betters you as a footballer and I cannot wait for that next challenge.?
Sticking with the Arrive Alive Women?s Premier League, Sydney University?s consistent and reliable shotstopper Emma Kate Dewhurst took out the Goalkeeper of the Year award while Western Panthers? Graeme Ross took out the Coach of the Year award.
?This award comes as a shock but I would like to congratulate all the girls that participated in the league this season especially our team who did what they could in what was a tough year.
?I know many of us learned a lot from this season and we?ve taken this on board for 2011,? stated Ross.
Marconi Stallions? promising young prospect Doris Osman, who at the tender age of 15, was awarded the Premier League Reserve Grade Player of the Year award.
?I want to thank Football NSW for this opportunity and would like to pay my respects to the referees and of course the entire coaching staff at Marconi as well as the players who have made this a memorable year for me.
?I would also like to thank my Dad who has been my number one supporter,? stated Osman.
Up and coming Referee Katie Patterson was given the plaudits of being awarded the Referee of the Year award after a sterling season in the officiating ranks. Her efforts were seen from many people especially at the FFA who have rewarded Patterson with a chance to strut her stuff as an official in the 2010 National Youth League kicking off shortly.
In other Arrive alive Women?s Premier League awards, Manly United won the Premier League Club Championship award while Southern Branch collected the Premier League Fair Play Award.
Meanwhile in the Arrive Alive Women?s Super League, it was A.P.I.A.-Leichhardt Tigers? Natalie Spirovski who took out the Player of the Year award beating a number of potential stars.
It was a special evening for the talented female footballer as she also celebrated her 22nd birthday.
?It?s a huge honour being crowned Player of the Year, it was a tough season for all involved but I want to pass on my thanks to my team, club management and of course my parents for believing in me.?
Gladesville Ravens keeper Rebecca Colechin was awarded the Super League Goalkeeper of the Year award while Spirovski was again on the winners list as she took out the Golden Boot award with 14 goals for the season.
Blacktown Spartans? Megan Bertenshaw and Lady Hawks? Jessica O?Brien were joint winners of the Reserve Grade Player of the Year award while ex-Socceroo skipper and now Gladesville Ravens manager Paul Wade was rewarded for his services taking out the Coach of the Year award.
Having been capped 116 times for the Socceroos, the former skipper for the Green and Gold held nothing but praise for his beloved Gladesville Ravens and the development of female football in Australia.
?It is an absolute honour being able to be with you all tonight receiving this award.
?The girls have been an absolute delight to coach and I have loved every minute of coaching them every weekend. I know we will return bigger and better next season as I believe the side has the passion and skills to go that next level.
?Female football has really developed these past couple of years and there is no stopping the sport now which is going from strength to strength from our national team the Matildas winning the Asian Cup to grassroots football, it?s all pointing towards a bright future in the sport.?
The Blacktown Spartans took out the Super League Club Championship and St George was awarded the Super League Fair Play Award.
The Manly Daily scooped the Media Award for the Arrive alive Women?s Premier League for their dedication in promoting the women?s game. Manly Daily representative and Matildas/Manly United star Gillian Foster accepted the award through her efforts with her weekly column. Apart from the paper?s coverage of Manly United?s weekly matches with player profiles and reports from the weekend?s games, the Manly Daily gave Foster the ability to focus on the development of women?s football and the promotion of the game within an area predominately dominated by other codes such as Rugby League and Rugby Union.
This initiative alone set a standard for women?s football to be recognised and since its introduction has grabbed a healthy audience in the support of the game for female footballers from grassroots level right up to national level. Football NSW?s Ross Anderson was given the media award for his outstanding services in promoting the women?s game in the Arrive alive Women?s Super League. Anderson is no stranger to the women?s game having been Football NSW?s main writer for the last three seasons; he has certainly earned the tag as being the brains behind promoting women?s football from a media sense.
His knowledge, passion and expertise for both the Premier and Super Leagues has been outstanding and this alone has pushed him up there as being one of the most accomplished women?s writers ever involved in the game within this state.
List of Award winners
SL Youth 14’s – Central Coast Lightning
SL Youth 16’s – Blacktown Spartans
SL Reserve Grade Premiers & Champions – Eastern UNSW Lions
SL 1st Grade Premiers – Blacktown Spartans
SL 1st Grade Champions – Central Coast Lightning
PL Reserve Grade Premiers & Champions – Manly United FC
PL 1st Grade Premiers & Champions – Illawarra Stingrays
SL Fair Play Award – St George FC
SL Club Championship – Blacktown Spartans
PL Fair Play Award – Southern Branch
PL Club Championship – Manly United FC
SL Golden Boot – Natalie Spirovski (APIA Leichhardt Tigers) 14 goals
Debbie Tait Memorial Trophy (PL Golden Boot) – Catherine Cannuli (Inter Lions) 23 goals
SL Club Person of the Year Awards
Lisa D’Aprile – APIA Leichhardt Tigers
Paul Costantini – Blacktown Spartans
Cassandra Brewis – Central Coast Lightning
Berni Henderson – Eastern UNSW Lions
Tim Franley – Gladesville Ravens
Ed Terry – Lady Hawks
James Brown – Northern Tigers
Mike Parczewski – Springwood United
Stephen Crowe-Mai – St George FC
PL Club Person of the Year Awards
Chris Wilson – Illawarra Stingrays
Jo Hunter – Illawarra Stingrays
Doug Sparks – Inter Lions SC
Jane Strutt – Macarthur Rams
Wendy Aouad – Manly United
Rob Pearce – Marconi Stallions
Graham Carr – NWS Koalas
Alison Duffy – Southern Branch
Belinda Seers – Sydney University
Holly Hays – Western Panthers
PL Media Award – The Manly Daily (Gillian Foster)
SL Media Award – Ross Anderson
Referee of the Year – Katie Patterson
PL Coach of the Year (1st Grade) – Graeme Ross (Western Panthers)
SL Coach of the Year (1st Grade) – Paul Wade (Gladesville Ravens)
SL GK of the Year – Rebecca Colechin (Gladesville Ravens)
PL GK of the Year – Emma Kate Dewhurst (Sydney University)
SL Reserve Grade POY – Megan Bertenshaw (Blacktown Spartans) & Jessica O?Brien (Lady Hawks)
SL 1st Grade POY – Natalie Spirovski (APIA Leichhardt Tigers)
PL Reserve Grade POY – Doris Osman (Marconi Stallions)
PL 1st Grade POY (Platinum Medal) – Olivia Kennedy (Sydney University)
Previous Platinum Medal Winners
2001 ? Leanne Taylor (Manly United)
2002 ? Erica Halloway (Bathurst City Panthers)
2003 ? Michelle Carney (Macarthur Rams)
2004 ? Sandra Stavrou (UNSW)
2005 ? Astrid Larssen (Sydney University)
2006 ? Vanessa Hart (Bathurst Panthers)
2007 ? Lisa Gilbert (NWS Koalas)
2008 ? Stephanie Haim (Macarthur Rams)
2009 ? Michelle Heyman (Illawarra Stingrays)
Previous Super League Medal Winners
2001 ? Jinny Cuthel
2002 ? Bronwyn Jarvis (Roselands Raptors)
2003 ? Angela Treglia (Roselands Raptors)
2004 ? Katie French (Southern Branch)
2005 ? No Award was given
2006 ? No Award was given
2007 ? Astrid Larssen (Sydney University)
2008 ? Gillian Rosconi (Western NSW Panthers FC)
2009 ? Catherine Cannuli (Inter Lions)
Previous Goalkeeper of the Year Winners
2001 ? Cassandra Kell
2002 ? Dimitra Poulos (Wollongong Wolves)
2003 ? Simone Czech (Macarthur Rams)
2004 ? Dimitra Poulos (Wollongong Wolves)
2005 ? Dimitra Poulos (Southern Branch)
2006 ? Sarah Gollop (Illawarra Stingrays)
2007 ? Alison Lounge (Central Coast Lightning)
2008 ? Emma-Kate Dewhurst (Sydney University)
2009 ? Michelle Grigg (Macarthur Rams)
Previous Debbie Tait ?Golden Boot? the Year Winners
2001 ? Joanne Peters
2002 ? Julia Bazi (Marconi Stallions)
2003 ? Michelle Carney (Macarthur Rams)
2004 ? Leena Khamis (Macarthur Rams)
2005 ? Fab Perfillio (Marconi Stallions)
2006 ? Michelle Carney (Illawarra Stingrays)
2007 ? Leena Khamis (Macarthur Rams)
2008 ? Stephanie Haim (Macarthur Rams)
2009 ? Stephanie Haim (Macarthur Rams) & Michelle Heyman (Illawarra Stingrays)
Previous Arrive alive Premier League Premiers
2001 ? Sutherland Sharks
2002 ? Northern NSW Academy
2003 ? NSW Academy
2004 ? Marconi Stallions
2005 ? Marconi Stallions
2006 ? Marconi Stallions
2007 ? Macarthur Rams
2008 ? Macarthur Rams
2009 ? Illawarra Stingrays
Previous Arrive alive Premier League Champions
2001 ? Northern NSW Academy
2002 ? Marconi Stallions
2003 ? NSW Academy
2004 ? Marconi Stallions
2005 ? Marconi Stallions
2006 ? Marconi Stallions
2007 ? Macarthur Rams
2008 ? Macarthur Rams
2009 ? Illawarra Stingrays
-By Mark Stavroulakis
