After more than 500 entries, nine UMBRO Football Heroes have been found from regions across the country. Each winner has shown the very best in football spirit and achieved great feats in their community, often against the odds and always through sheer determination and dedication to their club.
Here is the list of winners from the 2007 UMBRO Football Heroes.
London
Winner: Mohammed Bashir Walji (24)
Club: Stanmore FC
When Mohammed was only 14 years old, he took on the challenge of setting up his own community football club, Stanmore FC.
Mohammed has worked tirelessly to fulfil his passion for the game and the young people of his local community.
From his own desire to play football, he has inspired hundreds of young people to take part in the game and share the community values he believes enriches the sport. His dedication is without measure, spending at least 15 hours each week sustaining his club for now 10 years. He has taken on every role within the Club, and remained determined to make his dream live on, to inspire another generation of young people in his community.
North East
Winner: Derrick Gurney (61)
Club: Durham County Football Club
Derrick is Chairman of Durham County Football Club and has developed an inclusive football club with 20 boys and girls teams aged from six through to 18 years of age. It is the largest community based team in County Durham.
To ensure everybody received recognition for their efforts last season, Derrick recently arranged the annual club presentation which was recently attended by 950 children and their families. He arranged for every player who has represented the football club to receive a trophy personally engraved with their name.
Derrick is currently investigating the possibility of developing links with the disabled to try to increase the inclusivity of the football club and is also trying to develop us into a charity to increase our chances of receiving some sponsorship or grants.
Yorkshire
Winner: Tracey Zon (41)
Club: Aston Juniors Football Club
Nominated for this award by her son and daughter, Tracey is secretary for Aston Juniors Football Club and child welfare officer for Aston Juniors. She also arranges matches for U14's boys and sells raffle tickets in addition to organising the tuck shop at home games.
Tracey was manager of Aston Juniors for three seasons which lead to them being promoted. She then took her level one to coach them and has since taken on other roles at the club.
It is amazing that Tracey manages to fit football into her life as she is also a foster carer and has several children living with her in addition to her own.
North West
Winner: June Kelly
Club: Abraham Moss Warriors
June has been involved in building up Abraham Moss Warriors since May 2001 when she started out with a group of 10 players. There are now more than a hundred members.
Coaching teams four days a week, June manages teams on Saturdays and Sundays and takes on responsibility for organising meetings and applying for available grants. She also washes the kits, organises mini buses to get the players to away games, sort out drinks etc practically everything.
June has built up a successful club with an excellent discipline record with members from 20 different countries creating a truly multi cultural and inclusive environment. Players of all abilities are all welcomed.
This year, June has been in hospital lot, but even managed to get night leave to attend training as she didn't want to let the boys down.
South East
Winner: Richard and Tracey Crutchfield (husband and wife)
Club: Dover Rangers
This husband and wife team are Richard (44) and Tracey (41) Crutchfield. Richard is currently the Chairman of Both Dover Rangers Football Club and the Youth section of Dover Athletic Football club. Tracey is secretary of 14 teams within Dover Rangers.
Richard is also committed to: U11 Dover Deal district football, Kent football teams and Fun night football sessions. Tracey is frequently responding to queries from Managers when Richard is attending meetings.
These two individuals are an inspiration and without them many children in the area would not be playing football. Over the past five years, both Richard and Tracey have demonstrated unprecedented commitment to football.
South West
Winner: Tony Rich (38)
Club: Yetminster United
Tony has been nominated by his son and is the coach of Yetminster united U12s. As a dairy farmer, Tony works an outstanding number of hours each week, seven days a week but still manages to fit football in.
On match days his day starts as early as 4:15am when he has to milk the cows before going straight to the ground to put up nets. After each game he is also responsible for ensuring everything is put away and then continues work back at the farm.
Tony is dedicated throughout the season holding weekly training nights and even acts as a taxi service to ensure five players can make each training session.
Birmingham
Winner: David Scotford (16)
Club: The Alex FC
David Scotford is just 16 years old. He has been coaching since the age of 12 and running teams in his local area including Brierley Hill Bullets under 7's team, under 12 girl’s team, and under 14's.
Dave also ran Redhill Secondary School's under 12's girl’s team, running the line for their matches, coaching at all their training sessions in addition to refereeing some matches. The team won the Stourbridge & Halesowen 5-a-side schools championships and then became the runners up at the Black Country Tournament.
Last year, Dave set up a new club, The Alex FC, and has formed a very good team which operates a rotational system to ensure all players, regardless of ability, can enjoy playing football.
East Anglia
Winner: Ron Payne (81)
Club: Halesworth Town J.F.C. (formerly Norwich Road Ranger and Bedingfield Eagles)
Ron moved to Suffolk with his family in the late 60's and immediately got involved with coaching youngsters in his street. This led to the formation of a team, the Bedingfield Eagles (named after the street he lived in), with a couple of friends. This led to the formation of a club which has thrived for over 35 years, coaching generations of youngsters.
He was involved in football from a very early age in the West Ham area playing to a reasonable level until injury stopped his playing days.
Ron finally retired from football coaching on his 80 birthday, but refuses to retire from football completely, as he still participates by providing goalkeeper coaching for the under 9’s.
East Midlands
Winner: Brendan Richardson (32)
Club: Radcliffe Olympic FC
Brendan was first involved with Radcliffe Olympic FC when he played for the men’s first team when he was only 16 in the 90/91 season. Unfortunately, in February of 199, Brendan broke his neck in an accident and was left paralysed from the chest down.
In 2002, Brendan returned to the club and helped transform the club by providing the club website, match day programme and advertising sales.
He works seven days a week for the club despite coping with his disability and is always willing to help out others where he can. He is a true inspiration and has remained committed to football against the odds.
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