Amongst a star-studded room of internationally renowned high-achievers,at the Sunday Times & Sky Sports Sportswomen of the Year, in association with Vitality, one of the outstanding winners, on a night of outstanding winners, football coach Annie Zaidi, stood out receiving the Helen Rollason Award for Inspiration award as the first South Asian and Muslim woman to acquire a Level 2 coaching badge from the Football Association.
She endured overwhelming levels of discrimination from opposition teams their managers, parents, certain associations and, shockingly, her own community, in parts, but, despite the abuse and lack of inclusion, she maintained her passion to coach the game she loves.
Annie, from Coventry, in the West Midlands, is currently head coach of the U11 team at Leicester City Girls' Centre of Excellence.
Other highlights at the glitzy affair included World champion Jessica Ennis-Hill winning the coveted Sunday Times and Sky Sports Sportswoman of the Year award, sprinter Dina Asher-Smith capping a record-breaking season by being named Young Sportswoman of the Year, the Vitality Women's Team of the Year award going to the England's hockey team, tennis star Jordanne Whiley voted Disability Sportswoman of the Year honours and cricketer Enid Bakewell, one of the country's finest female players winning the Lifetime Achievement Award.
