Achievements in sport rewarded

Talented students and young leaders were celebrated at the Sports Awards Evening – and given an insight into the running of Grimsby Town Football Club.

Guest of honour Debbie Cook and Principal Nigel Whittle with all the winners.

Guest of honour at the Academy’s annual event was the club’s Chief Executive Officer Debbie Cook.

Debbie addresses the audience.

Principal Nigel Whittle was delighted to welcome her to the evening.

Mr Whittle at the event.

It had, he said, been a highly successful year for sport and the numbers of students being recognised in individual and team awards demonstrated as such.

“We have a fantastic PE department and sport is an important part of what we offer at Waltham Toll Bar,” he said.

Head of the PE Amy Pharaoh at Waltham Toll Bar, part of Lincolnshire Gateway Academies Trust, compered the evening and thanked the senior leadership team, parents and students for their support and contributions.

Head of PE Amy Pharaoh introduced the night.

“We believe that sport has a wonderful way of bringing people together,” she said.

On top of sporting fixtures and afterschool clubs, the faculty had run a successful Sports Leaders programme, residential trips to Condover and Walesby Forest, a trip to Silverstone and, for the first time, delivered the Duke of Edinburgh award scheme, with more than 70 students participating.

“We are here to celebrate the resilience, fair play, teamwork, and hard work that comes with taking part,” she said.

“We live in a time where people want and expect to achieve everything immediately, but people involved in sports understand that success is something that is a result of hard work and dedication, even failure at times.

“But that's OK, because we get up and go again and make sure that we strive to be better than we were before.

“We don't give up when things get tough, because we know the satisfaction and enjoyment we gain through accomplishment is not just from winning, it comes from the hours of practice, dedication, and ups and downs along the way.”

Of the Sports Leaders’ programme, she said: “Without leaders, coaches and officials sport could not take place so these are very special awards and nationally recognised.

The Victor Ludorum award, presented to the student who as well as being an exceptional performer goes above and beyond expectations, is presented to Felicity Green by Chair of  Waltham Toll Bar Governors Philip Bond.

“Throughout the year our leaders have demonstrated remarkable dedication, passion, and leadership.”

Debbie said it was a “huge honour” to present the awards.

“I know this academy has a reputation for excellence in sport and this is a very special night,” Debbie said.

She became one of the few women to be appointed CEO at an English Football League club after it was taken over by Jason Stockwood and Andrew Pettit two years ago.

It has been a hugely successful period, with the Mariners promoted back into the EFL at the first time of asking and ending last season in their highest position for 15 years and making it through to the quarter final of the FA Cup.

“Our set of values are based around being greater together,” she told students, their families, staff and guests.

“We recruit players that will fit in and hold our values. We treat each other like a family and our manager Paul Hurst talks about no one player being bigger than another, continuous improvement and winning and losing together.

“It’s an ethos that runs through the club.”

The team of the year was won by the Year 9/10 Girls’ football team. Lincolnshire Gateway Academies Trust’s Chief Executive Martin Brown presented the trophy to captain Pheobe Emerson.

But there were many other roles at the football club, as well as a footballer.

“We recognise the power of football and sport in a community,” she said. “Through the football club, we want to raise the hopes and aspirations in our town.”

Reflecting on the victory parade at the end of a dramatic play-off campaign last season, Debbie said: “I’ve seen the pure joy that our success has brought.

“I feel incredibly privileged to be part of the club and seeing families making memories together.

“Through football, we can also talk about difficult issues such as mental health, evidenced by our link up with NAViGO last season.

“Blundell Park is a place where everyone should belong and feel included.

“There is a real opportunity on the back of the football club’s success to shift the often negative narrative about the town.

“Congratulations to all the winners here tonight. We are greater together and can deliver for our community.”