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Women in Football Ambassador Annie Zaidi insisted that there is “still a long way to go” after she today received her BEM from Lord Tim Cox in recognition of her services to sport. 

Annie, a coveted UEFA B coach license holder, was joined at the official ceremony by Michael Bennett (PFA Head of Player Welfare) and Wayne Allison (FA BAME Manager), along with close family members.

“I remember doing a TV interview when the Queen’s Honours List was announced,” she said. “I had just come back from Malaysia and there was this official looking letter at home and my first instinct was ‘Who has been driving my car and got me a speeding ticket?!’

“I couldn’t quite believe it when I saw what the letter actually said, and am obviously proud and very humbled to have been recognised.

“I was the youngest out of five women getting a BEM and to be honest, I had always thought that getting awards like this was for slightly older people. But you know what, it was great and someone said to me today that it doesn’t matter how old you are it is what you do that matters, and that is very true.

 “It has been a tough journey and although it might look great to have a medal – and don’t get me wrong, it is – it has been a really hard journey to get this far with some real lows. The journey still has a long, long way to go.

“I live my life by putting down professional and not personal milestones, and if I am honest, passing my B license has been the pinnacle of my career. Now I have got my B I have my sights set on taking my A license next year.”

Instead of making a day of it, as soon as Annie returned home from receiving her BEM she was back in her tracksuit bottoms, armed with her laptop and getting on with work.

“The biggest challenge I have faced was taking my B license and I was a real fish out of water, coming from a background of community coaching,” she explained. “It felt that some of my knowledge wasn’t as good.

“In order for me to be as prepared as I possibly can be for next year, I am already planning different sessions so that I take to this like a fish to water.

“I want to work in a pro environment and be known and respected for my ability.

“My Grandpops said to me to keep reaching for the stars but keep my feet on the ground and that is exactly what I want to try and do.

"I won’t shy away from any challenge; challenges just make me more determined!’

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