Marie Bowden wins inaugural Ralph Ellis Award
Leicester City's Marie Bowden has won the first Ralph Ellis Award from the Football Writers' Association.The Foxes' media administrator collected the trophy from Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers ahead of City's 3-0 win against Arsenal on Sunday.
The award is named in honour of former national committee member Ralph, who ran the Midlands branch and passed away last year.
Marie said: "I'm really shocked, surprised and honoured. I love my job and I love this club. It really is a privilege to win."
FWA Midlands members voted for a club member of staff - manager, player or member of the media team - who they felt had helped them the most over the season.
The award is a sign of respect from the FWA to club staff and looks to build on the foundations Ralph laid in the Midlands.
Ralph's son Daniel said: "Dad would have been honoured and completely shocked to have the Ralph Ellis Award for services to the media named after him.
"The FWA want Marie to know that she doesn’t go unnoticed. Like all at Leicester, she carried herself with great dignity in a very difficult time last October when they lost the club’s chairman in an horrific helicopter crash.
"They say that a person’s never really gone while their name’s still spoken.
"From everything we’ve heard and seen since September, things like this award, and with people like Marie helping the relationship between clubs and journalists, my Dad’s legacy is going to live on for a very long time."
Tags: Marie Bowden, Midlands, Ralph Ellis Award
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Congratulations Maria. A well deserved award we’re all thrilled for yiu.