Pictured left to right: Kelly Smith, Jayne Ludlow and Lianne Sanderson, adminis-trator Linda Whitehead and midfielder Katie Chapman

Glittering Gunner Girls

ARSENAL Ladies completed a clean sweep of the season when they picked up a raft of honours at the FA’s annual awards ceremony near the Barbican on Wednesday.
The quadruple winning Ladies, who were granted the freedom of Islington after a campaign by the New Journal’s sister paper, The Islington Tribune, won no fewer than seven awards at the glittering event in The Brewery in Chiswell Street, Islington.
Striker Kelly Smith won the respect of her peers when they voted her Players’ player of the year, while Lianne Sanderson won the golden boot for National Division top scorer.
The awards kept on coming as Islington raised Ladies boss Vic Akers was named manager of the year, with his squad winning the awards for the team of the year and fair play team of the year. Arsenal’s administration volunteer Linda Whitehead was also honoured with a special achievement award for her work with the club.
In a final celebration, the FA presented Arsenal with a special trophy in recognition for their victorious Uefa Cup campaign.
Assistant coach Emma Hayes, a former Parliament Hill School pupil, said: “It’s well deserved for everyone connected with the club and it was nice to see the FA recognise our achievements too. It tops off the most incredible year in women’s football in this country ever.”
The Ladies completed their quadruple winning season last Sunday when they beat Leeds United 6-0 to finish the term without dropping a single point.