Jarreau Hayward expressed his gratitude after becoming the first recipient of the Bermuda Football Coaches Association Special Recognition Award during a presentation at the Clyde Best Centre of Excellence yesterday.

The St George’s Colts coach received the award for exemplifying the qualities for which it stands for throughout the past season.

It was a fitting way for Hayward to cap his most successful campaign to date coaching in the top flight, having led his team to a third-place finish in the league and semi-final of the prestigious FA Cup.

“I am really humbled to receive this award,” he said. “I really appreciate the Bermuda Football Coaches Association for recognising the hard work of not only myself, but my coaching staff, back room staff, president, management executive of St George’s, our fans and the team.

“We have had difficulties over the last two years and to be recognised for our potential and for our path and where we are going, I am just honoured and humbled to receive this first award.

“This is an award that has given encouragement to me and my staff. So I just want to encourage any leader out there, not just coaches, to continue to lead in sometimes a lonely position but at the same time is worth it; to be able to lead people, to guide people.

“As my president Neil Paynter always says, ‘we are in the life-saving business’, and I take that into every session, into every game, every meeting with every player and I really appreciate you all.”

Dennis Brown, the Bermuda Football Coaches Association president, says Hayward is a worthy candidate for the award given his qualities and potential he possess in the leadership role.

“One of our mandates this year is looking to enhance the life of our coaches in Bermuda and a new category for us is to recognise who didn’t win but show a lot of promise within our senior football in Bermuda,” he said.

“Our recipient has shown a lot of promise as a coach; showed a lot of passion, things that I love, and lot of dedication to his craft.

“I have seen him grow in the last couple of years as a coach who I see at some point being in the national academy as well.”

Hayward was presented with the award by Bermuda Football Association president, Mark Wade, who spoke on Hayward’s journey from player to coach and the important role coaches play.

“For me, coaches are so much more than victories and trophies for what they pour into our young people, to watch the first recipient’s path from fantastic winger on the senior men’s national team to now coaching in St George’s at my other club in a different sport,” he said.

“It’s fascinating and I love the idea of recognising coaches for what else they do. This further strengthens the relationship between the BFA and the BFCA, so to Jarreau thank you very much.”

Also attending the presentation was St George’s president, former player and coach Neil Paynter who was thrilled to see Hayward receive the honour.

“First off congratulations to Jarreau and also many thanks to Bermuda Football Coaches Association,” he said. “This is a very proud moment for our club.

“When you see a young man developing, they are moulding and are creating their craft as a footballer and also as a coach. And when they come from the grass roots of your organisation, and the organisation invests in them and gives them a pathway, this is the fruits of everyone’s labour.

“So I want to thank the coaches association, Bermuda Football Association and also to Jarreau for sticking it out because it’s not easy. I have been there and many of us have been in that position.

“I just want to say I am so very proud of you coach. We always have those conversations and I know there are bigger and better things for you to come.”

The award is the brainchild of former player and coach, Danvers Seymour, which the BFCA hope to see presented at the BFA’s Awards Ceremony.

“Moving forward to 2023-24 what we are going to be looking at is to add this award on behalf of the Bermuda Football Coaches Association to the BFA awards,” Brown said.