With the Committee’s kind permission, I am very proud to announce the establishment of the Chairman’s Recognition Award.
This award scheme runs separately from our annual awards and throughout the season. The award has been established to recognise individual examples of outstanding determination, resilience, sportsmanship, and such things that are above and beyond the norm. This is neither a ‘good behaviour award’ nor an award for the most prolific scorer. This is completely different. This is an award that recognises the behaviours, culture, and values we all associate with being a Colt.
Anyone can nominate any person involved with the club, from Players and Coaches to that dedicated parent helper who is always there. Nominations will be received in writing via email, Spond, or WhatsApp and discussed by the Club Committee, with awards made based only on exceptional merit.
Ultimately, this is an award-giving worthy recognition at the club level – reminding us all that we are part of this amazing organisation and of the remarkable people we are lucky to have within our football family.
To set the highest of standards for all future nominations, tonight I was extremely pleased to be able to award the Club’s very first Chairman’s Recognition Award to a very deserving George Holloway of our U16s.
George’s story is one of resilience and perseverance through adversity.
In 2019, George fractured his knee and his femur. This alone would have required a great deal of resolve to recover from and get back onto the pitch. However, George was soon diagnosed with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. Having done some reading on this, the pain is likened to that of amputation. George had a mental and physical mountain to climb. He would need to train himself to work with and through the pain in order to recover.
Initially confined to a wheelchair, George was able to get about on crutches and still made his way to support his teammates at each game and each training session, watching on from the sidelines. When down to just one crutch, but still in some pain, George returned to training, building up from 10 minutes. He went on to help warm up Miles, the team’s Keeper and this helped his recovery by building strength and range of mobility in his leg.
Three years on from his injury, George managed to play his first game in September 2022. He came on as a substitute in the second half and delivered a Player of the Match performance whilst also scoring his first goal in 3 years! George is now a top-three scorer with 6 goals from 8 games and is a regular starter in the team again.
To add to this, George has since taken advantage of our football club’s Players Pathway Initiative by becoming a Referee and will now support the club even further by officiating over some of our younger age group’s league games.
George has shown great courage, remarkable tenacity, and resilience in the face of adversity. He has very obviously demonstrated the values associated with being a Colt, from his strength of character, his unquestionable determination, his team-manship and his willingness to grow, develop and support the football club, above that of being a Player.
It is hugely satisfying and a great pleasure to be able to award George with the Club’s very first Chairman’s Recognition Award – a very worthy recipient who sets the standard for those to follow.
I’d also like to take this opportunity to thank George’s teammates and friends. Their support and encouragement have certainly given him the strength and desire to want to get back playing alongside them.
Congratulations, George.
Richie
Club Chairman.
