A MUM'S ongoing commitment to football in Warrington has seen her land a Cheshire FA award.

Grassroots volunteer Carla Parker was named as the 2015 Volunteer of the Year at the Cheshire County FA Community Awards, presented by McDonald’s.

Nominated multiple times, Carla has been referred to as an “amazing lady” and “one in a million.”

A mother to four boys under the age of nine who runs two separate businesses in her professional life, Carla nevertheless always finds the time for Lymm Rovers FC.

When she began volunteering Lymm were struggling to attract players and faced closure, but within eight months she turned the club’s fortunes around, with her excellent coaching methods credited with growing the belief of the club’s players and attracting swathes more.

Over the past three years, Carla contributed every hour possible to Lymm Rovers FC, coaching the under 6s, under 7s, and the whole girls' section, for which she set up a dedicated academy, attracting more than 90 girls, some as young as five, to attend training every week.

Ever present at training and games, and never to be found without a beaming smile on her face, Carla’s passion and belief has installed a new confidence in all of the children at the club, inspiring those around her with her selfless dedication to the growth of the club and the wellbeing of its members.

A true role model.

Now in their sixth year, The FA Community Awards presented by McDonald’s, recognise and celebrate the grassroots volunteers, clubs and leagues in counties across England, who dedicate their time to grassroots football in their local community.

McDonald’s Director of Football, Sir Geoff Hurst, said: “The FA Community Awards are a fantastic way of recognising true grassroots heroes such as the Carla. The work that goes into providing football for hundreds of kids every week should not be underestimated and these awards are richly deserved.”

McDonald’s Franchisee Paul Griffiths added: “Football in England simply wouldn’t be the same without the volunteers who put in so much time and effort.

"These type of people are vital to their local club and communities."