Maya caps a magical breakthrough year
MAYA LE TISSIER had a post-Christmas surprise yesterday as she received the Guernsey Press Sporting Achievement of the Year trophy.
The England U17 and now Brighton first-teamer, enjoyed an outstanding 2018 and was the unanimous choice of the GP sports desk, who present the award annually.
Le Tissier, 16, becomes the fourth woman to land the Bruce Russell designed trophy, which was inaugurated in 2003.
Past winners include many of the modern greats of Sarnian sports, such as Andy Priaulx, Dale Garland, Tobyn Horton and Cameron Chalmers. The 2017 winner was Commonwealth Games boxer Billy Le Poullain.
‘Maya has made such remarkable strides this past year that she was the outstanding candidate,’ said GP sports editor Rob Batiste.
‘To break into WSL [Women’s Super League] at the age of just 16 and have the confidence of no less a coach than England legend Hope Powell is indicative of her qualities,’ he added.
‘She is such a level-headed girl, an England age-group regular, and a real leader.’
This coming year she has got the European U17 Championships to look forward to and with the women’s professional game coming on leaps and bounds Maya may even one day be as well known as that other eminent footballing Le Tissier, along the south coast at Southampton.
As an island, we can but hope so.
