A FORMER nurse from Newton has won a prestigious award.

Jenny Leyland received the McDonalds FA 2017 Football Mum of the Year Award from Colleen Rooney at a presentation event at Wembley, where she also met former Manchester United player Ryan Giggs and the CEO of McDonalds.

“It’s all been very fast – and I still don’t know who nominated me," said Jenny, a physio for Widnes RUFC.

“I was on stage for the award and then we watched the match (FA Charity Shield) and were called at half-time and presented with the award again.

“There was a framed shirt on the wall with 2017 mum of year and a write-up about me going back to when I was coaching at Newton County – it goes back years. So someone who knows me well nominated me!”

Jenny, who was awarded the MBE in 2010, runs a seven-team football academy for under sevens.

She has two grown-up children and said she got into football at the age of five, when her dad took her to watch Liverpool.

She said: “I started playing at 16 – and later started doing physio for football teams.

“In 2008 I started Sutton FC with four children from the area and it’s quickly grown in size – three of my teams won the league this year!”

She added: “I love football – it’s my pleasure to give up my time for it. I do something football-related every day except Mondays.”

The award nomination said: “Jennifer is a force to be reckoned with – she has been involved with grassroots football for 36 years and hasn’t slowed down since the start.

“She first began volunteering at her son and daughter’s matches before completing her coaching training in the 90s, following which she began coaching school teams in Newton-le-Willows, continuing her voluntary work up to 2008.

“She learned of an area in St Helens which was struggling with deprivation and would benefit from having a football team to bring the community together.

“Jennifer jumped at the chance starting with just four youngsters, this led to her having her first team in the league in 2009.

“Her team won the Charter Standard Award after only six months and have gone on to win many more awards, no doubt as a direct result of the support that Jennifer continues to give the club.

“Jennifer’s career in football continues to go from strength to strength and her dedication to the game has over the years allowed many youngsters to have a safe and enjoyable environment to play in.”