The winners of the Kent FA Grassroots Workforce Awards have been announced.

A celebration of the individuals who make a difference to the county game took place at the Ashford International Hotel & Spa last Thursday night.

Kent FA chief executive Darryl Haden said: “It was an incredible evening.

“Congratulations to all our fantastic award winners and everyone who received a nomination this year.

“We would also like to say a special thank you to our event partner, Bellway, for their incredible support of these awards.

“Lastly, thank you to everyone who made a nomination this year. Without you, we wouldn’t have a platform to celebrate all the incredible achievements of our local grassroots volunteers.”

It was a successful night for Bearsted husband-and-wife duo Kevin and Lesley Stevens.

The grassroots ground team of the year gong was won by Kevin while Lesley collected the new volunteer of the year award, having stepped up to replace popular stalwart Roy Benton, who died last year, as their club secretary.

With Kevin unable to attend the event, compered by TalkSport commentator Charlotte Richardson, Lesley said: “It will mean a lot to him.

“He’s retired now and just loves doing what he does. The more people comment, the harder he works.

“We’re lucky. Our children are all grown up now so we’re at home on our own, retired.

“Bearsted really is a lovely ground. It’s a pleasure to do what we do for people.”

The female pathway coach of the year award winner was Headcorn’s Josh Harrowell.

“I’m very flattered to be honest,” he said.

“I wasn’t expecting the nomination - let alone to win! I’m really happy.

“All the ladies that have played, most of them have got kids in the club now and some of them I coached in a younger age group.

“I’m on the committee at the club, as well, so I know most of them anyway. There’s a couple of new people that we’ve drawn in from the local area.

“It’s a nice, little group.”

Male pathway coach of the year was handed to Paul Francis, of Anchorians.

He said: “I was just happy to be nominated, let alone shortlisted.

“So to receive the award is amazing. I’m absolutely speechless!”

Mark Faulkner, of Yalding and Laddingford, was highly commended in this category.

Kings Hill’s Scott Mann beat off stiff competition, including from Maidstone Raiders’ Lorraine Humm and Michael Watts, to take the disability coach of the year award.

“I’m thoroughly delighted,” he said. “I’m really pleased to be recognised.

“It was a strong category. Other clubs that were nominated would have been equally as deserving of the award. But I’m really pleased it was me.

“I think it [disability football] should be offered by every club throughout Kent. There’s such a need for kids who can’t cope or don’t want to be in mainstream football.

“They deserve the opportunity to play football.”

Kings Hill also were named grassroots club of the year.

Chairman Barry Gethin said: “It’s amazing to win the award.

“There’s some fierce competition, looking at the other clubs that were shortlisted. It’s testament to all the people that volunteer at our club and help drive us forward.

“There’s so many different volunteers so this award is for everybody.”

Officials involved with the Kent Girls & Ladies Football League were also celebrating after they were crowned grassroots league of the year.

League chairman Leigh Willis said: “The girls game is just growing and growing.

“We’ve had phenomenal numbers this year and, looking ahead to next year, the numbers are growing even bigger - making us probably bigger than most mixed leagues in the county now, which is just a great achievement.

“It shows how much the girls game has progressed in the past five or six years in particular.”

“I’d just like to thank all the other people on the committee who do so much hard work,” added league secretary Mike Hannaway. “All the admin officers.

“I’d also like to thank all our member clubs who are really helping us to grow.”

The East Kent Youth Football League were highly commended in this category.

Young volunteer of the year went to 13-year-old Archie Suter, of Faversham Strike Force, who conducts tannoy announcements and does first-team interviews with players and management afterwards, too.

Suter, whose dad Lee Suter is club development officer at Strike Force, said: “It’s huge, not only for me, but for the club. I’m not the only volunteer so it’s big for all of us that someone gets recognition they deserve.

“We’re doing really well as a club. We have around 40 teams and 150-odd volunteers, so that’s massive.”

Both Cranbrook Juniors’ Luci Levett and Ruan Liscoe, of Medway Town, were highly commended for their work in the same category.

Grassroots match official of the year went to Phil Mathews.

He said: “I do this because I enjoy doing it. It keeps me fit and allows me to be involved in football, so it really means a lot.

“I love it. Rain or shine, I’ll still go out there and do the best that I can.”

Chris Bright was highly commended in the category.

Medway United’s Ryan Abrahall was handed the positive football environment award.

He said: “I’m over the moon. This isn’t just for me, it’s for the network as well.

“I’ve got nine coaches that help me produce the mental health network within Medway United.

“I can’t do it without them. Yes, I do a lot of work with charities and other bits and pieces but, for me, this is a club award.

“It’s put us on the map now. We’ve got the safe environment behind us and we can now push that forward and open it up for everybody.

“We’ve got charity events and fundraisers coming up to try and raise more money to help support other teams with mental health networks.

“It’s a small stone dropped in the ocean - but we’re going to make big waves!”

The Colin Boswell young referee of the year award gong was given to Jack Smith, who has now turned 22.

He said: “I’m happy to win it because it’s named after a great man.

“I only met him on a couple of occasions, I used to do Kent Youth League as well, and he was a good president.

“I’m excited to get it, really, and the positive feedback which is always good as a young referee as well.

“I’m just outside the age range for this event now but, obviously, when I was nominated, I was within the age range.

“Having the support of colleagues elsewhere is always a benefit, as well, as I work my way up the pyramid at such a young age.”

Whitstable’s Rising Stars were celebrating, too, after being crowned 2023 digital club of the year.

Jenny Hancock, secretary and social media manager, said: “We’re really proud to get this award.

“There’s quite a small team of us working behind the scenes on our social media accounts, the website and our electronic apps.

“We couldn’t do it without all the support and all the content our players, and families, send us.”

Beverley Latham, of Woodnesborough and the East Kent Youth League, was given the Welfare Hero of the year award.

“I’m only really doing what’s best for the children and best in my job,” said Latham, who also works as a teacher.

“I’ve always put the children first. I started off my football career as a coach for 12 years, so I know all the difficulties. When coaches phone me up with a problem, I tend to get out there.

“I spend most of my weekends out and about, just so that children get to know my face and my name, rather than me being someone at the end of an email.

“It all started when my daughter started playing football when she was six. She’s now 20.

“I found out it’s actually easier to be a coach and a trainer. When it’s raining, you don’t feel the rain as much but, when you’re a mother on the side, you do so that’s how it all started.

“I gave up coaching two years ago and went into welfare. Then, the East Kent Youth League said ‘You wouldn’t mind being our welfare officer, would you?’ I thought I’d give it a go.

“I’ve got to be honest, I was completely shocked at how spectators were just doing inappropriate things at matches - so there’s been a lot of sorting out.

“The Kent FA can’t do everything so I just try to do all I can to help as well.”

One of two dedicated service awards was handed to the Kent County Football League who have been providing playing opportunities in the county for 100 years.

League treasurer Chris Clarke said: “While I’ve accepted it on behalf of the league, it’s important to recognise that it’s for the clubs who are part of the league and been with us for a huge amount of time.

“We don’t have any Man Uniteds or Chelseas. It’s all about people forming teams and getting teams running. That’s the most important thing.

“Over the years, we’ve seen a massive change in terms of the way the game is run and we’ve had to adapt to that.

“Also in the 1920s where we started, it would have been a mainly male, white-dominated, league whereas, now, we’re fully diversified.

“We’ve got teams like Guru Nanak and we’ve got full diversity throughout the leagues.

“It’s been a success but we need to continue the process of change, going forward as well.

“We can’t stand still and always have to look to the future.”

Barrie Ivens also won a dedicated service award for managing Castle Colts for 25 years and doing 15 years with their ladies’ team, but was unable to attend the awards night.

Mark Harrop, sales director at Bellway Kent, added: “As well as delivering much-needed new homes across Kent, we are committed to supporting local communities and grassroots organisations within the county.

“The Kent FA’s Grassroots Workforce Awards shine the spotlight on some of the unsung heroes of our local communities and it was great to see their efforts get the recognition they deserve.

“We are proud to be sponsors of this year’s event and look forward to continuing our relationship with the Kent FA in the future.”

Overall, 270 nominations were received across 13 different categories.