DERBY County Ladies' Sheila Rollinson has been officially recognised by the Women's FA for her contribution to the game.
Rollinson won the Outstanding Contribution to Women's Football award at a ceremony, which took place at London's Madame Tussauds.
Derby County Ladies were also shortlisted in the WSL Club of the Year category.
Chairman Duncan Gibb said: "It's fantastic news for the club and thoroughly deserved for Sheila.
"We've put a great deal of time and effort into starting to put into place the things we know are needed to take the club into the Women's Super League.
"Off the field, we have gone from having a couple of club sponsors to 27 and we have significantly raised the club's profile through a number of initiatives, as well as via the local and national media.
"We are already working towards setting up our own academy, where girls will be able to study and play football under the Derby County Ladies banner."
Sheila formed the club in 1990, when women's football clubs were few and far between and were not officially recognised by the FA.
Since then, Derby County Ladies have become the biggest club locally with aspirations of playing in the Women's Super League – where some footballers are semi-professional.
She is understandably proud of her achievements at the club and was delighted to receive the award.
She said: "It was a really proud moment for me. The women's game has come a long way."
