Ally Green presented with the rebel Role Model Award on International Women’s Day

Ally Green from Westfield W-League side Sydney FC has been announced as the winner of the Rebel Role Model Award at the rebel Female Football Award breakfast function held this morning in Sydney on International Women’s Day.

The 20-year-old capped off an incredible season by scooping the headline award, which recognises excellence both on and off the pitch. The defender, who’s represented the Young Matildas, was part of Sydney FC’s Championship-winning team which defeated Perth Glory last month to clinch its third Westfield W-League title.

But it’s her achievements in the role as Fan Engagement Coordinator at Sydney FC that attracted the attention of the panel of judges.

Ally developed excellent relations with community club representatives, oversaw the trial of a fan and community shuttle bus service to games, often attended community-based club and charity events both as a Sydney FC player and staff member, as well as coaching and coordinating the club’s holiday clinic events that develop young players.

READ MORE: Andreatta and Hopkins among winners at rebel Female Football Awards
BEST OF:  Stunning free-kicks of the Westfield W-League 2018/19 Season
VIDEOS: Remember the Westfield W-League 2018/19 season that was

The Rebel Female Football Awards play an important role in formally recognising the contribution females play in our sport, celebrating their achievements over the past year and bringing together all facets of the women’s game from grassroots through to elite level.

The event, hosted by Fox Sports football presenter Tara Rushton, took place at a packed Beta Bar, with ten Rebel Female Football Awards handed out. A highlight of the morning was the keynote address, delivered by Paralympian and Australian sporting legend Katrina Webb.

A director of Silver 2 Gold High-Performance Solutions and founder and director of newday leadership, Katrina said she was delighted to be involved in the Rebel Female Football Awards. She talked about the challenges she faced growing up with a hidden disability and shared her journey of discovering there is a power in difference and the importance of gender equality.

She added: “We all have differing abilities and when celebrated and embraced it benefits sport. It’s wonderful to see football being inclusive from grassroots to elite for girls and women.”

Awards were announced in two categories, with Brisbane Roar’s Mel Andreatta scooping the Female Coach of the Year Award and Nicola Browne from the Newcastle Jets claimed Female Administrator of the Year in the Westfield W-League/Hyundai A-League Awards. The Roar’s Chris McAlister was announced as Female Fan of the Year while Melbourne Victory head coach Jeff Hopkins took out Male Champion of the Year.

In the Member Federation community section, Joey Powell from Northern NSW Football was awarded Community Female Player of the Year, the Community Female Coach of the Year was Football Victoria’s Louise McColl, the Community Female Administrator of the Year was Bethwyn Wyatt from Football West, Chloe Gray from Football NSW was Community Female Referee of the Year and Football West’s Shane Cole was Community Male Champion of the Year.

Football Federation Australia Chief Executive David Gallop AM attended the Awards and paid tribute to the role females play in Australia’s largest club-based participation sport.

He said, “In 2018 women and girls represented the fastest-growing sector in football, meaning there are more females playing, refereeing or coaching the game than ever before. In every facet of football females are increasingly playing a leading role and driving the game forward.

“At FFA we’re committed to gender equality in football, and that means achieving 50:50 gender parity in participation, creating gender equality in pathways so that talented females have the same opportunities as their male counterparts, and we are working hard to get more females in leadership roles at all levels of the game.

“I congratulate today’s winners at the Rebel Female Football Awards, and look forward to continuing to celebrate the role of females in football during the various Rebel Female Football Weeks throughout the year.” 

Gallop added “It has been a huge week for women’s football. The Matildas got back to the dominant ways of 2017 and it was particularly pleasing to see them buzzing with excitement at the end of each game.

“I loved seeing them mixing with the fans and providing young girls with some memoires that will last a life time but also inspire them to play the game. I like the expression “if you can’t see it, you can’t be it “.

“That sums up the importance of young females seeing their heroes. Our new skipper Sam Kerr was outstanding on and off the pitch. We are all set for a big few months of preparation for France.”

For the first time, 2019 sees each Member Federation celebrate Rebel Female Football Week at a time to suit its members and the local football community, to maximise the impact this week has on driving female participation at all levels of the game and to allow for the scheduling of unique activities.

Rebel Female Football Week 2019 dates

Rebel Female Football Award Winners

Westfield W-League/Hyundai A-League Category

Member Federation Category