HEREFORDSHIRE Girls League chairman Richard Wydenbach has received a special award for his outstanding contribution to football.

Wydenbach received his presentation when the HFA held their Community Awards ceremony at Withington Village Hall.

Wydenbach also chairs the Herefordshire Schools FA.

"Richard works tirelessly to support the local game," said the HFA's Roger Goodwin, who nominated him for the award.

"He is not only chairman of the Herefordshire Girls League, but he watches a game each weekend, coaches in schools, ensures the respect programme is implemented and is always on hand to offer advice and guidance to clubs and the county FA.

"He has almost single-handedly lifted the Herefordshire Schools FA from the brink of collapsing and re-constituted the organisation.

"Despite having retired from teaching, he remains chairman of the Herefordshire Schools FA having fulfilled this role for many years."

Wydenbach's nominee, Sarah Reed, was named the young volunteer of the year.

"Sarah has worked with a group of girls at Lads Club since 2011 and the team are now established as the best in the league," he said.

"She has from a young age shown great administrative skills, considerable commitment and dedication.

"And often as soon as the match has finished, she has disappeared to play for the Lads Club Ladies' team.

"We could not think of a better role model for this age group."

The volunteer of the year award went to Jim Loftus from Ross Juniors.

Loftus founded the club in 2004 with four teams and he served as manager and chairman.

"As the original committee retired as their children became too old, Jim persisted and created a men's team so his sons could continue to play," said Ross coach Paul Flitney who nominated Loftus for the award.

"The men's team appeared at a time when men's football was at its lowest with no senior side being based in the town."

The coach of the year award went to Fownhope's Leon Harwood for his work in coaching Fownhope under-10s, the club's two senior sides and the St Mary's Primary School Fownhope after-school club.

Westfields were named as the FA Charter Standard Club of the year, with PHoenix winning the Development Club and Ross Juniors the Community Club awards respectively.

The Herefordshire Junior League was awarded the prize for the FA Charter Standard League while Weobley won the Inclusive Football Club of the Year award.

Prizes were presented by former Hereford United managers Colin Addison and John Layton, HFA chairman Bill Shorten, HFA president Sir Colin Shepherd and Will Lindesay, the chief executive of Herefordshire Voluntary Organisations Support Service.

ANNUAL AWARDS

FA Charter Standard Club, Westfields; FA Charter Standard Development Club, Phoenix; FA Charter Standard Community Club, Ross Juniors; FA Charter Standard League, Herefordshire Junior League; Young Volunteer, Sarah Reed (Hereford Lads Club; Coach, Leon Harwood (Fownhope); Volunteer, Jim Loftus (Ross Juniors); Inclusive Football Club, Weobley; Outstanding Contribution to Community Football, Richard Wydenbach.