TWO East Lothian football volunteers have scooped national awards from the Scottish Football Association.

Chairman of Tranent Colts Phil Purves was named the Best Volunteer in Youth Football at the Scottish FA’s Grassroots Awards, held at Hampden last Thursday.

The awards ceremony which honours the best volunteers in the sport in Scotland also saw Michael Windrum, who coaches at Musselburgh Windsor FC, honoured as the best volunteer in girls’/women’s football.

Now in their fourteenth year, the Grassroots Awards recognise and celebrate volunteers and clubs across Scotland who dedicate their time to grassroots football.

Mr Purves has been the driving force behind the growth and success of Tranent Colts. As the chairman of the club for over 14 years, he has been instrumental in growing the club into one of the biggest in East Lothian.

The SFA said: “This has not happened overnight and Phil has been tireless in working with the football authorities over the years to achieve the highest Quality Mark status from the SFA; the club has also, in recent years, been nominated numerous times for the East Lothian Club of the Year and last year were successfully awarded that accolade.”

Mr Purves was delighted with the award and said: “It is always a team effort: I wouldn’t do what I do without all the support from our committee, parents and players alike.

“It is great for East Lothian also, nice that some of the recognition comes over to the east now and again.”

Musselburgh Windsor coach Mr Windrum has coached at the club for six years. For the last three years he has coached three age groups including the U11, U13 and U15s girls’ teams and is out training most week nights and coaching games at the weekend.

The organisers said Mr Windrum had dedicated his time to growing the girls’ section of the club to the thriving sustainable club that now covers the full SFA Player Pathway. National winners were chosen from hundreds of nominations across the country and were recognised at a regional level before travelling to Hampden Park.

McDonald’s head of Scottish football and Scottish footballing legend Kenny Dalglish said: “The Scottish FA Grassroots Awards are a great way of rewarding those dedicated volunteers who give so much to football. Without them the game we all know and love simply wouldn’t be the same. Phil Purves and Michael Windrum are prime example of this and I want to extend my congratulations to them both for their achievements and commitment to the grassroots game.”