A TEENAGER football coach who gave up FA Cup final tickets to help at a community event has been celebrated at a surprise award ceremony.

Sixteen-year-old Taome Caville, whose love of football changed her life around, was given the thank-you by Greenfield Community Association at her school Darwen Aldridge Community Academy (DACA).

Lifelong Manchester City fan Taome, said that she felt ‘shocked but very proud’ to receive the award given as a thank you for volunteering to run a coaching session for Greenfield Community Association’s spring fayre, which had to be called off due to bad weather.

She had given up tickets to watch Manchester City play against Wigan to help at the event.

She said: “My legs started shaking when I realised the ceremony was for me, it’s made me very proud but I didn’t expect it at all.

“I love coaching football so there was no contest between helping out or going to the final.”

Taome grew up in a deprived area in Darwen and found herself regularly excluded from the academy for bad behaviour when she was younger.

But that all changed when she took up football coaching for young people and those with disabillities at Darwen Rangers FC at the age of 14.

Giving her a focus and structure, she was able to not only complete a host of coaching qualifications but get back on track with her studies, even completing one GCSE in sport a year early.

Her commitment to training led to the Football Assocation (FA) choosing her as one of its ambassadors six months ago.

Taome, who now coaches both girls and 6th form boys football as part of an PE technician apprenticeship at the academy, said: “Realising there was something I was good at gave me back confidence in lessons at school and a path to follow.

“I want people to give girls a chance with the sport and to encourage them themselves to see it as a fun activity that they can take part in with the boys.”

At the ceremony she was presented with a £50 DW Sports voucher.

Carol Tapp, Greenfield Community Association’s organiser, said:”Missing a match to come to the fayre was a big ask and she wouldn’t accept any money or food from us as a thank you for giving up her time.

“We just want to say well done for all her work for the community. She has been an inspiration to everyone in the area.”