Sharon Brittan has been honoured as a leading prize-winner at the 2024 Women's Football Awards.
The Whites’ Chairman was described as role model to women in the football industry as she won the Football Business Trailblazer award in recognition of the leadership and ‘dynamic approach to building up Bolton Wanderers’ she has shown in her time at the helm at the Toughsheet Community Stadium.
The award followed thousands of public nominations and the view of a judging panel which involved some of the biggest names in the sport, including women's footballers Nikita Parris and Missy Bo Kearns, pundits Micah Richards, Jamie Carragher and presenter Hayley McQueen.
Former Chelsea, Juventus and England star Eni Aluko, who co-hosted the event in London alongside Sky Sports presenter Carragher, said: “The 2024 SHEIN Women’s Football Awards was, once again, a landmark moment for the sport.
“The best of the best were celebrated, including Bolton's Sharon Brittan who is a real inspirational role model to women in the football industry.
"She has demonstrated a dynamic approach to building up Bolton Wanderers in recent years and is very deserving of this honour.”
Sharon, who has overseen continued progress on and off the pitch and helped foster a fantastic community spirit at Wanderers since Football Ventures Whites Limited saved the club in August, 2019, topped a shortlist which included Brighton CEO Paul Barber and West Ham vice-chairman Karren Brady to receive her award alongside other winners including England Women’s manager Sarina Wiegman and Lionesses’ stars Mary Earps and Georgia Stanway.
2024 SHEIN Women’s Football Awards winners:
Unsung Hero Award sponsored by Southport FC
Winner: Jane Purdon
Inspirational Role Model
Inspirational Role Model
Winner: Steph Houghton
World Cup Hero sponsored by Visa
Winner: Mary Earps MBE
Highly Commended: Aitana Bonmati
Brand of the Year
Winner: Adidas
Highly Commended: Barclays
Best Breakthrough Business
Winner: ScottishPower
Highly Commended: Rept Sports
Marketing Campaign of the Year sponsored by BioWaveGo
Winner: Venus - MoveYourSkin
Highly Commended: Panini
Women's Football Broadcaster or Journalist of the Year sponsored by RWinvest
Winner: Alex Scott MBE
Highly Commended: Kate Abdo
Best Social Media Campaign
Winner: The FA - Lionesses
Highly Commended: Adidas - Play Until They Can't Look Away
Football Player of the Year sponsored by Snapdragon
Winner: Bunny Shaw
Highly Commended: Sam Kerr
Football Business of the Year
Joint winners: EA Sports, Wasserman
Outstanding Corporate Social Responsibility Award
Winner: Premier League
Highly Commended: Moore Kingston Smith
Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Award sponsored by the Premier League
Winner: Tottenham Hotspur - Women’s Football Development Centre
Highly Commended: Standard Chartered & Liverpool FC
Off The Pitch Award sponsored by Standard Chartered
Winner: Katie Gritt
Highly Commended: Ellie Cross
International Football Player of the Year sponsored by Linklaters
Winner: Georgia Stanway
Highly Commended: Lucy Bronze
Best Fan Engagement Award sponsored by TikTok
Winner: Manchester United
Highly Commended: Brighton & Hove Albion & American Express
Grassroots Initiative of the Year sponsored by Indivisa
Joint winners: UEFA Playmakers - Disney, McDonald’s - Fun Football
Football Business Trailblazer sponsored by Women in Football
Winner: Sharon Brittan
Highly Commended: Anna Deignan
Women's Football Champion of the Year sponsored by Panini
Winner: Yvonne Harrison
Highly Commended: Fara Williams MBE
Young Football Player of the Year sponsored by Nutriburst
Winner: Maya Le Tissier
Highly commended: Laura Blindkilde-Brown
Football Club of the Year
Winner: Chelsea
Highly Commended: Brighton and Hove Albion F.C
Manager of Coach of the Year sponsored by Moore Kingston Smith
Winner: Sarina Wiegman CBE
Highly Commended: Emma Hayes
Metro Women’s Football Ally Award
Winner: Jermaine Jenas
Game Changer Award
Winner: Victoire Cogevina Reynal
Highly Commended: Jill Scott MBE
Lifetime Achievement sponsored by SHEIN
Winner: Kerry Davis