SHEFFIELD FA AWARDS NIGHT….
On Friday night myself, Mark and Jack attended the 2024 Grassroots Football Awards by the Sheffield FA.
It was a different event to the Doncaster one we’d previously done as we already knew we’d been lucky enough to win the award.
This meant that I was personally already mentally prepared for what was to come in regards to the award which helped a lot.
I did personally have some anxiety battles to face by going to the awards though, it was an event at night which I’m not great with as it meant I had all day to stress about it and make myself potentially ill, it was in the middle of Sheffield city, Mark was driving me which and I knew the awards ceremony was around an hour after getting there.
Mark driving me helped a lot though, even though I’m not used to other people driving me and sometimes it can be a trigger I felt calm with Mark driving which was great and I’d managed to stay relatively calm throughout the day.
At points throughout the day and once I’d got to the venue I did have some difficult moments but I was able to let them pass fairly easily.
I was able to have a little to eat at the event which is a bonus for me because usually in public and when anxious it’s a massive no, so that shows I was fairly calm enough to eat.
All that was left to do was to go on stage, collect the award and answer some questions, of course, this was a big anxiety trigger but the Doncaster awards experience helped as it showed I could do it.
I was quite anxious but managed to do it which was great, as you can see from the photos, I’m not the best in front of camera as you can see from the awkward smile.
With the Doncaster award it was a surprise as we didn’t know if we’d won so I didn’t have much time to think about going on stage, but this award I had all night to think about it and I knew exactly when it was coming so my anxiety could build up to the moment.
Running MHFC is throwing many different anxiety challenges at me and I’m happy to say that most of them I’m getting through/winning and I think it’s helping in my personal life as I’m able to stay calm and do a lot more with my family.
I still can’t believe that within 16 months of MHFC launching how quickly it’s developed, helped people and won not one but two awards!!
We’ve just hit 400 active members with 370 in Doncaster and 30 in Scunthorpe, we currently help 150 people per week with numbers continuously growing and our sessions are in demand all around the UK and we hope we can start sessions in Sheffield, Rotherham and Barnsley before launching sessions in other towns and cities around the UK.
I just wanted to say a massive thank you to everyone who nominated MHFC for the award, just being nominated, nevermind winning it is amazing!!
Mark and Jack for attending the event with me, Mark for being a massive help in driving me which enabled me to attend and keep me calm for the event.
Unfortunately, unlike the Doncaster awards we weren’t able to stay the full night which was a shame but we all had things over the weekend we needed to be good for and it was a decent drive home.
Chris from the Sheffield FA for putting together a great event and night, the room and event was spot on for people who struggle with mental health and the people attending were thought of a lot.
Andy Giddings from BBC Sport for hosting the event and asking the questions, you could tell he was a pro at that and listening to the experiences of ex-footballer and now refferee Vance Warner and current pro footballer Satara Murray.
As always, thank you to our sponsors….
IFS Risk Solutions
Dolphin ICT
Boxes and Packaging
FEC renewables
At boiler company
DBCargo UK
Utopia Design & Marketing
#GRAFA24 #SheffieldFA #GrassrootsFootball
