Katee Hui wins November 2012 Barclays Community Sports Award

The Canadian founded the Hackney Laces girls' football team and has been recognised for her efforts, with the club now boasting several age groups and over 50 players

Katee Hui, the founder of a girls' community football team has won the November 2012 Barclays Community Sports Award.

The Canadian-born London resident saw the need for a girls’ community team in Hackney, London and a year on Hackney Laces has over 50 players in teams spanning from Under-12 level, all the way through to women's teams.

Katee and her three volunteer coaches do not just help develop their football skills, but they also give them support and guidance with GCSE tutoring, homework, college interviews as well as fundraiser days, while she was delighted to win the £1000 prize for the club.

She stated: "I'm thrilled to accept the Barclays Community Sports Award and I'm sure the girls will be really pleased that our team has been recognised.

"I first set out wanting to create an environment where girls in the community could play football, but now it has become so much more than that and we're like a big family.

"The prize money will be put to great use and will help Hackney Laces guarantee pitch space as well as help some of the team members complete coaching qualifications."

The lead judge on the panel which decides the winner each month is Gareth Southgate, and the former England international fully endorsed Katee’s efforts with the Hackney club.

He said: "Katee is a great example of the work that many volunteers do across the UK in grassroot sports. It's brilliant that Katee has been recognised for her work in women’s football by encouraging young girls to get involved in the sport, which is helping nurture a new generation of talent in women's football.

"It's important to recognise those doing so much for their communities, so I would urge people to nominate deserving candidates up and down the country for the Barclays Community Sports Awards."