On Thursday 16 July, Bootham Girls’ & Ladies’ Futsal Club – York held its annual Awards Night, celebrating achievements across every age group within the club. The event brought together players, coaches, volunteers, and families for an evening of recognition and celebration following another successful season.

As always, the popular and notoriously difficult quiz proved a highlight of the evening, featuring questions about the club’s coaches, general futsal knowledge, and the much-debated referees’ question, which generated plenty of discussion among attendees.

The biggest moment of the night belonged to the Ladies team, who finally received their Tier 2 National Champions trophy. Their outstanding achievement was recognised with a thunderous ovation from everyone in attendance, providing a fitting tribute to a remarkable season and a memorable way to conclude the celebrations.

The evening once again showcased the strong community spirit that runs throughout Bootham Girls’ & Ladies’ Futsal Club, with players from the youngest age groups through to the senior teams coming together to celebrate their collective successes.

Here is the full list of awards:

Academy Awards

U10 Player of the Year 2025-26 – Charlotte C

U10 Rising Star 2025-26 – Miesha D

U12 Player of the Year 2025-26 – Maja G

U12 Rising Star 2025-26 – Lily N

U14 Player of the Year 2025-26 – Mollie C

U14 Rising Star 2025-26 – Emily C

U16 Player of the Year 2025-26 – Elena D

U16 Rising Star 2025-26 – Amie S

Overall Academy Player of the Season 2025-26 – Eleanor C

Other Awards

Smiler of the Season 2025-26 – Ania G

Respect Award 2025-26 – Elisabeth Craven

Goalkeeper of the Season 2025-26 – Scarlett W

Montesilvano Italy 2026 Player of the Tour – Imogen B

Goal of the Season 2025-26 – Natasha Eustance

Bootham 2026 Graduates – Daisy S, Hattie F, Lacey B, Eleanor C, Amie S, Abbie D, Erin E

200 Appearance Awards – Heather Smith, Ellie Whittaker, Suzy Collins

Ladies Awards

Young Player of the Season 2025-26 – Erin Elliott

Players’ Player of the Season 2025-26 – Heather S

Overall Player of the Season 2025-26 – Natasha Eustance

Well, that’s the end of another girls’ and ladies’ futsal season – one that has probably challenged me more than any other.

Over the past year, the club has become smaller, with some players moving on naturally and others joining local academies. Financial pressures are greater than ever, and we face a very difficult year ahead as we work hard to keep the club moving forward. Simply continuing to increase fees is not the answer; it goes against one of the club’s core philosophies – providing a female futsal club that is accessible to everyone.

Despite those challenges, I look back on the last 11 months with enormous pride. There have been so many successes both on and off the court, from memorable team achievements to some truly outstanding individual performances. Every player who has worn the Bootham shirt this season should be proud of what they have contributed.

Our break is a short one, with the Ladies team already returning for pre-season training next week as preparations begin for another exciting campaign.

I would like to thank every single player, coach, parent, volunteer, sponsor and supporter who has played a part in making this such a memorable season. Your commitment, enthusiasm and belief in the club are what make Bootham Girls’ & Ladies’ Futsal Club so special.

Next year marks our tenth anniversary, and plans are already underway to make it a celebration worthy of the occasion. It promises to be a special year for everyone connected with the club.

Have a fantastic summer, and I look forward to seeing you all back in September for much more futsal madness.

Chris
Chairman

As a fitting finale, I will just leave this here…