Peckham Town boss Mary Phillip was told “you are a star” after she was presented with both the London FA and national FA’s grassroots coach of the year award last weekend.
It was reward for outstanding work with The Menace, whom she has led to the London FA Senior Trophy title.
Former Millwall Lionesses, Arsenal and England captain Phillip has been coaching at Peckham for over two decades, helping to build the club from grassroots by providing, for example, free football to thousands of children in Southwark.
Not only that, Phillip just as easily turns her hand to washing the kits, cleaning the changing rooms, painting the clubhouse, or cutting the grass and lining the pitch.
She also coaches the club’s under-18s on Sundays and during the week coaches several school partnership teams
Phillip won the award last August but was unable to accept it at Wembley as it clashed with Peckham Town’s pre-season training. Instead her sons represented her in the VIP box for the Charity Shield match between Leicester and Manchester City on August 7. The FA also published a short film to recognise her award in August.
Phillip was formally presented with the award after Peckham’s match against Bromleians last weekend by Sir Simon Hughes, independent senior director for the London FA and a former Southwark MP.
“I’ve got a nice little award today, so I can put that with the rest of the [playing] trophies, which is really great,” Phillip said.
“It was my second coaching award on top of the London Trophy. It’s nice to have within three or four years of adult coaching, and I won’t say no to that.”
Hughes added he was “really pleased to be here, really pleased you won, but I am especially here for Mary.
“Mary got the award for being leading adult grassroots coach of the year. A Peckham girl that came home to look after Peckham Town FC. It gives me great pleasure to present Mary the award.”
Phillip’s focus, as usual, had been on the pitch and her team gave her the perfect start to the afternoon as they defeated Bromleians 3-0 before the presentation.
It was a good way to bounce back after defeat the previous weekend to Kings Hill, remarkably the first time they had failed to score in a game in over a year.
All three goals last weekend came in the first half. Peckham took the lead in the fourteenth minute with a superb team goal. Tidian Barry combined with Darren Titre-Wilson and Joshua Montella before continuing into the box and providing the finish.
Montella made it 2-0 in the 30th minute when he broke through to round the goalkeeper and slot home.
It was 3-0 seven minutes before half-time and a goal on his full debut for Titre-Wilson after his move from Croydon when he pounced on a loose ball.
Bromleians did have the ball in the net in the 49th minute but it was ruled out for offside.
Peckham had little trouble seeing the game out as Phillip was able to make changes to rest tired legs.
Menace fans on a freezing afternoon stayed behind to see Phillip receive her award.
“I’m just glad we got the three points in the bag,” Phillip said. “I said to the lads before the game that I have been [here] since 9am sorting out the pitch, and I want no less than three points!
“And they did what was asked of them. They got the ball down and played some lovely one-touch [football].”
Hughes also added: “[Mary] has an amazing record, a Peckham woman that has come home, coached the club and done really well.
“This was our way of saying, ‘Mary, you are a star’.
“I’m also glad to visit the club. It was great to celebrate the 3-0 win and push towards the top of the table. It’s a very welcoming and friendly club, despite being a bit of a cold brass monkeys day!
“A really great result and a really positive feel about the club. I also had a good chat with [club chairman] Bryan [Hall] about how the London FA can help build the club and provide the facilities that [Peckham Town] needs.”
Peckham Town: 4-4-2: George Legg; Emmanuel Cobbina, Samuel Boakye, Adam Carrick, Mustafa Hashemi; Kevin Dance, Joe Thomas, Tidian Barry, Nicky Meta (c); Darren Titre-Wilson, Joshua Montella.
Substitutes: Elton Romaku, Stephane Nzimbakay, Norman Hong, David Gabor, Herve Mbongue.