LAUREN Watson, a volunteer at Northwich Sapphires, is a role model for young girls who play sport according to judges for a prestigious award.

She received on Saturday a Goalden Globe for Grassroots Coach of the Year during a ceremony hosted by North West Netball.

“Her enthusiasm and commitment knows no bounds,” said Imogen Greatbatch, regional chair, who hosted the event at the Renaissance Hotel in Manchester.

“Lauren has an excellent rapport with players and parents alike, and has been an integral part of her club [at Northwich] since 2010.”

Watson’s contribution as a coach at Grange School was also recognised, and members of the school’s under 14s girls’ team – who she helped, along with head of netball Jess Fowler, to fifth place in the English National Schools’ Finals in March – were there to see her collect the award.

Most of the same group won the School Sport Magazine Cup, while competing as under 13s, the last year.

More recently she has overseen the introduction of Mini Nets – an introduction to the basic skills required to play netball that sets the youngest players on a path to Sapphires’ introductory age-groups.

It satisfied one of the category’s main criteria, which is encouraging newcomers to the sport.

She will now be invited, along with the winners from other parts of the country, to the national England Netball Goalden Globe awards later this year.

Northwich Sapphires were also shortlisted for an Outstanding Club award, a category in which Wilmslow Lightning took the prize.