ESFA Reward & Recognition Awards

Sarah Kavanagh of Thomas Estley Community College was recently recognised for her "contribution to the girls' game" of football, winning national recognition for her role in developing girls' football in Leicestershire.

Sarah started working specifically with girls' football whilst working with the Major League Soccer Camps in the U.S.A. She took up a teaching post at Thomas Estley in 1999 and since that time, football has been a major part of the PE curriculum. Since 1999 approximately 600 girls have represented the college, winning 18 County titles, 2 Midlands titles and 2 national titles. The College has also reached the Premier League 6-a-side national final and won an FA Charter Standard award.

Links have been built with two local girls' football clubs (Cosby FC and Oadby & Wigston Girls FC) and some of the girls at Thomas Estley now play for Leicester City's Centre of Excellence.

Sarah also works in local primary schools raising the profile of girls' football.

Due to her commitment and dedication to girls' football, Sarah has now also been put forward to win the overall 'ESFA Contribution to Schools' Football Award 2016-17', which will be announced later in the year.

Sarah also coached the Year 10/11 Girls Football winners during the 2016/17 Team Leicestershire campaign.