BBC favourite and former Arsenal and England star Alex Scott scooped a prestigious prize at the 2024 Women’s Football Awards in London tonight (Thursday 30 May) as top female footballers Mary Earps, Georgia Stanway and Maya Le Tissier also landed gongs on a successful night for the Lionesses.
Scott, 39, lifted the Broadcaster of the Year award. Meanwhile, Manchester City striker Bunny Shaw was named Player of the Year after bagging 21 goals in 18 games for the Women’s Super League runners-up.
The SHEIN Women’s Football Awards, in its second year, also struck an emotional chord as Kerry Davis, the first black woman to represent England, was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award by Olympic champion Denise Lewis to loud cheers on a star-studded night in Mayfair.
Davis was added to the Football Black List, which recognises the most influential black people in British football, in March and is widely viewed as a trailblazer in the sport, representing Croydon, Liverpool and Napoli as well as amassing 82 England caps between 1982 and 1998.
Hosted by Chelsea and England legend Eni Aluko and Sky Sports presenter Jamie Carragher, the Women’s Football Awards, supported by online fashion and lifestyle retailer SHEIN and VISA, celebrated the players, people, brands and organisations who have contributed to the phenomenal growth of the sport.
Launched in 2023, the awards are the first publicly-voted ceremony to recognise all levels of the game, from grassroots greatness to superstar players.
Real Madrid icon Caroline Weir opened the evening with an emotional speech which addressed the growth of the sport and a stunning tribute to her former team-mate Steph Houghton.
More than 25,000 votes were cast ahead of the awards event, with Manchester City captain Houghton in attendance to collect an Inspirational Role Model Award voted for by her peers following her retirement at the end of this season. England manager Sarina Wiegman and Mary Earps joined the ceremony from video link at their base camp in St. George’s Park ahead of the crunch Euro 2025 qualification fixture against France in Newcastle on Friday.
The One Show host and former Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur star Jermaine Jenas was in attendance to collect a Football Ally of the Year award. Jenas was presented his award by his BBC One Show co-host Alex Jones.
Dame Kelly Holmes, Gemma Owen, Katherine Ryan, Lianne Sanderson and Adele Roberts were amongst the famous faces in the room who were spotted enjoying a headline performance from Pixie Lott to close out the awards to a rapturous reception.
Players from the men’s game including Aston Villa’s Tyrone Mings, Bournemouth’s Dominic Solanke and Eveton icon Dominic Calvert-Lewin were also in attendance.
In other awards, Chelsea, Totenham Hotspur and Manchester United were amongst the clubs honoured, while Yvonne Harrison, CEO of Women in Football, was named Women’s Football Champion of the Year.
Wasserman and EA Sports were honoured in a joint award for the Football Business of the Year Award and Adidas were hailed as Brand of the Year for their commitment to the women’s football space.
Former Chelsea, Juventus and England star Eni Aluko, said:
“The 2024 Women’s Football Awards was, once again, a landmark moment for the sport and a highlight of my career.
“From players to coaches, global brands to grassroots volunteers, the best of the best were in the room tonight and I have to thank our sponsors, SHEIN and Visa, for their incredible support.
“I am very proud to co-host this special evening alongside Jamie Carragher and devote an entire evening to celebrating the superstars of women’s football at all levels. Congratulations to all of our nominees and, of course, our amazing winners.
“We are already planning our 2025 event – hopefully when our Lionesses return from the European Championships as champions once more!”
Sky Sports presenter and football legend Jamie Carragher, who co-hosted the event, said:
“The atmosphere in the room tonight was fantastic. The Women’s Football Awards is a special event and the winners are all incredible people.
“This was a true celebration of the women’s game. I am looking forward to seeing the sport continue to grow at a phenomenal rate and I’ll do what I can to help.”
Cui He, Head of Europe at sponsors SHEIN, said:
“SHEIN was built on the principle of female empowerment through making the beauty of fashion accessible to all.
“We are once again super proud to be supporting the Women’s Football Awards and send huge congratulations to all of the winners and nominees.
“This is a truly meaningful event which celebrates some of the most inspirational women and girls in sport.”
Full list of 2024 Women’s Football Awards winners:
Unsung Hero Award sponsored by Southport FC
Winner: Jane Purdon
Inspirational Role Model
Winner: Steph Houghton
World Cup Hero sponsored by Visa
Winner: Mary Earps MBE
Highly Commended: Aitana Bonmati
Brand of the Year
Winner: Adidas
Highly Commended: Barclays
Best Breakthrough Business
Winner: ScottishPower
Highly Commended: Rept Sports
Marketing Campaign of the Year sponsored by BioWaveGo
Winner: Venus – MoveYourSkin
Highly Commended: Panini
Women’s Football Broadcaster or Journalist of the Year sponsored by RWinvest
Winner: Alex Scott MBE
Highly Commended: Kate Abdo
Best Social Media Campaign
Winner: The FA – Lionesses
Highly Commended: Adidas – Play Until They Can’t Look Away
Football Player of the Year sponsored by Snapdragon
Winner: Bunny Shaw
Highly Commended: Sam Kerr
Football Business of the Year
Joint winners:
EA Sports
Wasserman
Outstanding Corporate Social Responsibility Award
Winner: Premier League
Highly Commended: Moore Kingston Smith
Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Award sponsored by the Premier League
Winner: Tottenham Hotspur – Women’s Football Development Centre
Highly Commended: Standard Chartered & Liverpool FC
Off The Pitch Award sponsored by Standard Chartered
Winner: Katie Gritt
Highly Commended: Ellie Cross
International Football Player of the Year sponsored by Linklaters
Winner: Georgia Stanway
Highly Commended: Lucy Bronze
Best Fan Engagement Award sponsored by TikTok
Winner: Manchester United
Highly Commended: Brighton & Hove Albion & American Express
Grassroots Initiative of the Year sponsored by Indivisa
Joint winners:
UEFA Playmakers – Disney
McDonald’s – Fun Football
Football Business Trailblazer sponsored by Women in Football
Winner: Sharon Brittan
Highly Commended: Anna Deignan
Women’s Football Champion of the Year sponsored by Panini
Winner: Yvonne Harrison
Highly Commended: Fara Williams MBE
Young Football Player of the Year sponsored by Nutriburst:
Winner: Maya Le Tissier
Highly commended: Laura Blindkilde-Brown
Football Club of the Year
Winner: Chelsea
Highly Commended: Brighton and Hove Albion F.C
Manager of Coach of the Year sponsored by Moore Kingston Smith
Winner: Sarina Wiegman CBE
Highly Commended: Emma Hayes
Metro Women’s Football Ally Award
Winner: Jermaine Jenas
Game Changer Award
Winner: Victoire Cogevina Reynal
Highly Commended: Jill Scott MBE
Lifetime Achievement sponsored by SHEIN
Winner: Kerry Davis