More awards came Pompey`s way last Friday when Andy Awford picked up the Football League`s Outstanding Contribution prize for his work with 16-21 year olds.
Awfs told the club`s officialsite “I went up to St George`s Park with Alan Knight for a black-tie event, with people like Trevor Brooking and Gareth Southgate in attendance. There were lots of different awards and I was lucky enough to be nominated in the professional category, which is for those who work with 16-21-year-olds.
It was an honour to be nominated and fortunately I won it. I was chuffed, but the award is testament to all the good work done by the staff at Portsmouth Football Club – and I don`t just mean on the coaching side. The club have invested in me to go on a lot of courses so I can learn more – the other lads take the mick by calling me Mr Course! But it`s important and has helped educate me on quite a few different aspects. Over the last couple of years I have taken an elite coaching course, various youth modules. the FA Youth Award and now the Advanced FA Youth Award.
“I think the award recognises how much we`ve done with our resources. Last season we had two lads in the England under-19 squad and this year Jack Whatmough has been called up to an England training camp. We`re in League Two now, but we`re still knocking on the door at international level and that`s fantastic. I think the FA have also looked at what we`ve been through as a club and how we`ve managed to hold it all together through everything that`s happened.
At one stage it looked like we wouldn`t even have a club, but everyone has worked doubly hard to get us where we are now. The award was presented to me – and I felt privileged to receive it – but I accepted it on behalf of everyone at the club.”
Vital View
Pompeytim wrote in the forum ‘Good to see Awford getting some recognition. It is clear that he is a decent coach. Given the lack of resource, we have produced a few decent youth players recently.
Well done Awford!`
Those few words just about say it all. Awfs has been a great servant to Pompey signing from Worcester City in 1989, making over 300 appearances before being forced to retire through injury. He has been at Fratton Park ever since with a few breaks to try out non league management.
Servants like Andy fully deserve these plaudits and we all say Well done Andy!!
PUP
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