Heidi Makrillos crowned 2011 Platinum Medal winner
It was to be NSW women?s football night of nights as selected players and teams from both the Women?s Premier and Super League were rewarded for their tremendous efforts in 2011.
Football NSW Director Bob Atby was in attendance as was Sydney FC?s Stefan Kamasz who heaped praise on the female competitions.
The award everybody was waiting for, the Platinum Medal, was awarded to Inter Lions? hard working and inspirational striker Heidi Makrillos who took out the coveted prize.
Her terrific achievements for Inter Lions were one of the talking points of the club?s showing in the Women?s Premier League where the club finished seventh on the ladder.
Reserve Grade Coach Mario Corio accepted the award on behalf of Makrillos and was quick to heap praise on the young forward.
?It comes as a bit of a shock to us as she?s (Heidi Makrillos) only 16, but she has had a fantastic season.
?She?s a pleasure to be coached, a very skillfull player who scored a lot of fantastic goals and set up a lot of goals.
Away from the main prize and Illawarra Stingrays? consistent attacker Michelle Heyman took out the ?Debbie Tait? Memorial Trophy (Golden Boot) award scoring 26 goals for the season.
Sticking with the Women?s Premier League, Illawarra Stingrays? consistent and reliable shotstopper Dimi Poulos took out the Goalkeeper of the Year award while Marconi Stallions? Rob Pearce took out the Coach of the Year award.
?Last year we had a lot of younger girls who competitive in matches but just couldn?t get over the line.
?This year we brought in a few experienced players and it proved to be the difference in getting over the line and finishing in the finals series? stated Pearce.
Parramatta Ladyhawks? promising young prospect Christina Ferreyra, was awarded the Premier League Reserve Grade Player of the Year award.
Up and coming Referee Melinda Bell was given the plaudits of being awarded the Referee of the Year award after a sterling season in the officiating ranks.
In other Women?s Premier League awards, Manly United won the Premier League Club Championship award while for the second year Southern Branch collected the Premier League Fair Play Award.
Meanwhile in the Women?s Super League, it was Northern Tigers? Gabriella Dal Pozzo who took out the Player of the Year award beating a number of potential stars.
UNSW?s Amanda Watson was awarded the Super League Goalkeeper of the Year award while APIA Leichhardt Tigers? Ayse Adalis took out the Golden Boot award with a massive 39 goals for the season which certainly goes down as a phenomenal effort by one of the deadliest strikers in the game.
Parramatta Lady Hawks? Zahra Shaddad won 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 for the second year in a row.
The Gladesville Ravens took out the Super League Club Championship and Nepean FC was awarded the Super League Fair Play Award.
The Illawarra Mercury scooped the Media Award for the Women?s Premier League for their dedication in promoting the women?s game. The Illawarra Mercury has been a staunch support of the women?s game for a number of years now with the coverage going from strength to strength. Constant coverage in a region with a population of over 400,000, on previews, reviews and player features on the Illawarra Stingrays are readily available on a daily basis highlighting the importance of women?s football within the South Coast area.
The paper was dealt with sad news however over the death of much loved and football passionate journalist Joel Ritchie who really was a football man through and through. Joel was one of the main instigators in making sure that the women?s game got a fair run in the Mercury ? his presence will be missed by all who knew him.
Orlando Chiodo accepted the Award on behalf of the Illawarra Mercury and fittingly dedicated the award to Joel.
Football NSW would like to also acknowledge all the support Joel gave to Football NSW not just with promoting women?s football but football in general.
The North Shore times scooped the Media award for the Women?s Super League for their dedication in promoting the women?s game. North Shore Times have been great supporters of women?s football in 2011 with a number of articles featuring Women?s Super League sides Northbridge FC and Northern Tigers. Journalist Torin Chen has been at the forefront in leading the charge in assisting with the promotion of women?s football within the area that has a huge rate of women playing football within the area.
List of Award winners
SL Reserve Grade Premiers & Champions ? Gladesville Ravens
SL 1st Grade Premiers & Champions ? APIA Leichhardt Tigers
PL Reserve Grade Premiers & Champions – Manly United FC
PL 1st Grade Premiers & Champions – Illawarra Stingrays
SL Fair Play Award ? Nepean FC
SL Club Championship ? Gladesville Ravens
PL Fair Play Award – Southern Branch
PL Club Championship ? Manly United
SL Golden Boot ? Ayse Adalis (APIA Leichhardt Tigers) 39 goals
Debbie Tait Memorial Trophy (PL Golden Boot) ? Michelle Heyman (Illawarra Stingrays) 26 goals
SL Club Person of the Year Awards
Byron Gulpers ? APIA Leichhardt Tigers
Shane Cox ? Eastern UNSW Lions
Christine Franey ? Gladesville Ravens
Taryn Rockall ? Nepean FC
Martin Joachim ? Northbridge FC
Helen Horley ? Northern Tigers
Natasha Crofts ? Parramatta Lady Hawks
Alan Budin ? Springwood United FC
Vicki Koinis ? St George FC
Annette-Joy Blair ? Sydney Olympic FC
PL Club Person of the Year Awards
Julie Jackson ? Blacktown Spartans
Tracey Borg ? Central Coast FC
Vicky Danyi ? Illawarra Stingrays
Mario Coiro ? Inter Lions SC
Matt Turvey ? Macarthur Rams
Ken Hutton ? Manly United FC
Maurice Bolger ? Marconi Stallions
Graham Carr ? NWS Koalas
Jen Todd ? Southern Branch
Brian Weekley ? Sutherland Sharks
Vicky Bennett ? Sydney University
PL Media Award ? Illawarra Mercury (Joel Ritchie)
SL Media Award ? North Shore Times (Torin Chen)
Referee of the Year ? Melinda Bell
PL Coach of the Year (1st Grade) ? Rob Pearce (Marconi Stallions)
SL Coach of the Year (1st Grade) – Paul Wade (Gladesville Ravens)
SL GK of the Year ? Amanda Watson (UNSW Lions)
PL GK of the Year ? Dimi Poulos (Illawarra Stingrays)
SL Reserve Grade POY ? Zahra Shaddad (Parramatta Lady Hawks)
SL 1st Grade POY ? Gabriella Dal Pozzo (Northern Tigers)
PL Reserve Grade POY ? Christina Ferreyra (Inter Lions)
PL 1st Grade POY (Platinum Medal) ? Heidi Makrillos (Inter Lions)
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)
2010 ? Olivia Kennedy (Sydney University)
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)
2010 ? Natalie Spirovski (APIA Leichhardt Tigers)
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)
2010 ? Emma-Kate Dewhurst (Sydney University)
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)
2010 ? Catherin Cannuli (Inter Lions)
Previous 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
2010 ? Illawarra Stingrays
Previous 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
2010 ? Illawarra Stingrays
