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Women in Football has honoured some of the game's shining examples of inclusion and equality by presenting prizes at the Spencer Chadderton Northwest Football Awards (NWFA) in Manchester this week.

Taking place at the Manchester Deansgate Hotel on 3 November, the NWFA ceremony celebrated the region’s footballing elite, recognising excellence both on and off the pitch. 

The evening was compered by Hayley McQueen and Dion Dublin and among the judges was Women in Football CEO Yvonne Harrison. WIF sponsored two Promoting Inclusion awards this year: one for League clubs and another for their non-League counterparts.

The League clubs' award was scooped by Oldham Athletic Community Trust for Active Through Football, a project with a simple but powerful vision: to make sport and physical activity accessible to everyone, regardless of their background or circumstances. Launched in September 2021, the initiative offers free, welcoming, and inclusive football and physical activity sessions for key priority groups, including refugees and people seeking asylum, ethnically diverse communities, women, older people, and people from low socio-economic backgrounds.

The winner of the non-League clubs' award was Altrincham FC, for their Alty Ability programme, designed to break down barriers, build confidence and celebrate what people can achieve. The project includes pan-ability football, junior disability multi sports, adult social sessions, special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) PE sessions and festivals in schools, and sensory items to support children and adults with SEND to enjoy the matchday experience.

Among the other winners were:

• Mo Marley, recipient of the inaugural Joe Thompson Impact Award for her extraordinary contribution to the women’s game
• Sky Sports broadcaster Natalie Pike, named Northwest Football Broadcaster of the Season
• Ceri Holland of Liverpool FC Women, voted as Barclays WSL & WSL2 Community Champion for 2024-25
• Naomi Hartley of Burnley FC Women, Women’s National League Community Champion

 

 

Highly Commended in the Best Business or Professional Services Organisation Serving Football category was Claire Bowden-Hughes’ En2End Ltd. Claire previously managed Aon's sponsorship of Manchester United FC and led sponsor events at Liverpool FC before establishing a sports events and activation agency in April 2019. Her company helps brands and rights holders connect and engage with their audiences through physical and digital experiences.

As an alumna of WIF’s Small Business Programme in partnership with Xero, it was a proud moment not only for Claire but for WIF team members too, as she stepped on to the stage. 

“I had no idea that I was going to win an award, or I would have done my hair and put my Spanx on,” laughed Claire. “I got pregnant at 45, and going back to work was quite challenging as I was worried how I would juggle the worlds of work and motherhood. Last night was a perfect example. After collecting my daughter from nursery, I had just 15 minutes to get ready for the awards, before diving into an Uber. 

“I am so thankful to WIF. The Small Business Programme took me back to basics, helped me rebuild and gave me so much confidence. It felt really fitting last night to be sat on the WIF table – a perfect way to celebrate the recognition and momentum my business is now receiving, as we also finished second in the Fan Solution category at Leaders last month.

“WIF championing women is just brilliant. You are playing a critical role in helping the industry change so much since I first became involved in football.”

 

Poignant

Yvonne also paid tribute to the much-loved former manager of Liverpool and several other women's teams, Matt Beard, whose death in September was felt deeply by many across the sport.

In an especially poignant moment, Matt’s brother Mark presented the Women’s Manager of the Season Award to Manchester United’s Mark Skinner. It was Matt himself who won the award just twelve months ago.

Speaking from the stage before the presentation, Yvonne said: “Women’s football owes a huge debt of gratitude to Matt. He was a true pioneer of the women’s game, coaching and inspiring a generation of players, and the outpouring of love following his passing speaks volumes about the man he was.

"The NWFA wanted to honour Matt’s legacy in a way that truly reflects his contribution to the sport, and we are deeply grateful to his family for allowing us to rename the Women’s Manager of the Season Award in his memory.”

 

Find out more

You can find out more about Active Through Football Oldham on X and about Altrincham FC’s Community Sports on their website. For a full list of award winners, check out the NWFA website. And it's been great to see some winners celebrating the event on social media:

• The NWFA have recognised all the winners

• Active Through Oldham

• Alty Community Trust

• Liverpool FC Women

• Burnley FC Women

 

Imagery courtesy of Spencer Chadderton NWFA 2025 and ER Photography.

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