THE Herefordshire Girls Football League have been given the FA's prestigious national Respect gold award.

It's a big step up for the league who have received the national bronze award in each of the last two years.

"The HGFL have always been keen supporters of the Respect campaign," said league chairman Richard Wydenbach.

"The aim of the League is to provide an environment for Girls soccer in which all participants show Respect to each other. #

"This includes players, coaches/managers, officials and spectators.

"The enthusiastic management committee have worked hard to ensure this takes place in the games which are played at U8, U10, U12, U14 and U16 on Sunday mornings.

"The HGFL is a Referee Partner League and young referees often have their first taste of officiating in our league. They always comment favourably on the whole atmosphere of the matches."

Over the past two seasons only two players have been booked and no-one has been sent off.

The league will be able to use Gold Respect logo on all their correspondence and will receive a grant of £2000 towards developing girls' football in Herefordshire.

"I am absolutely delighted that the Herefordshire Girls League have won this prestigious FA National Respect Gold Award," said Sean Dipple, Referee Development Officer and Respect Lead Officer for Herefordshire FA.?

"This is a combination of hard work and a proactive committee under the leadership of their chairman, Richard Wydenbach. The league and I have worked closely together over the past three years to promote Respect and this has now paid off."