EASINGWOLD school pupil Josh Waddingham has beaten off the challenge of 55 fellow nominees to win a prestigious national FA award.

Waddingham, 15, was presented with the Football Futures’ Outstanding Contribution award for 2014 in the young leader category at St George’s Park – the FA’s national training centre.

His recognition at the ceremony, which celebrates the work and achievements of young people in grassroots football, was all the more impressive, as entrants were aged between 14 and 24, with the corresponding winner of the girls’ prize having been on the Football Futures programme for four years.

A candidate from every FA governing body up and down the country was put forward for the trophy with Waddingham selected by the North Riding FA after being named their Young Volunteer of the Year.

He has done more than 250 hours of volunteering this year, including three-hour sessions as a young leader for the FA Skills courses staged at Huntington Secondary School.

Waddingham has also set up and leads a Team 16 futsal initiative at his own school, where he ran a Football Learning event to celebrate the World Cup over the summer with over 100 children taking part and tournaments held for both boys and girls.

Since the age of 14, meanwhile, he has been the vice-chair of the North Riding FA’s youth forum, whose aim is to provide young people with a platform to voice their views on junior football in the county.

He is a fully-qualified, level eight referee, who takes charge of York City academy games and York Mitchell League matches, as well as at community events organised by York City’s Foundation coaches.

During a work experience placement with the North Riding FA as a year-ten pupil, he helped stage PE lessons in primary schools and he assists with coaching Haxby under eights too.

A promising player himself, Waddingham has previously been invited for trials with York City and Scunthorpe United, played county and area football for Hampton and Richmondshire and was part of the Woodthorpe Wanderers side that finished under-15 league runners-up last season and reached a cup final at Bootham Crescent.

He now plays in defence for York Cubs and his school, where he has won the Manager’s Player of the Year award for the last two years.

But the ambitious award winner would love to carve out a career away from the pitch in coaching and cannot wait for his 16th birthday on January 1, as he will then be old enough to study for his first FA badges.

Citing a couple of high-profile examples as his inspiration, Waddingham said: “I have high aspirations and would love to be involved in the England set-up or a professional club.

“At the moment, I am doing as much as I can to help me get where I want to be. Jose Mourinho and Alex Ferguson both prove you don’t need to have had a great playing career to be a top coach so, hopefully, I can do the same.”

On his national FA prize, Waddingham added: “It means a lot to me to get this recognition because I just do these things for people’s enjoyment.”

Waddingham was nominated for the award by North Riding FA football development officer Steve Dorey, who enthused: "This is such a fantastic achievement and I’m delighted for Josh.

“He has shown tremendous dedication to the Football Futures programme and his development this year has been remarkable. Josh has set such a high bar now for all young leaders to aim for but this award is proof of what amazing things young people can achieve through Football Futures."