Barclays make dream come true
Proud Liverpool fan Rabiya Ahmed was recognised for her outstanding work in the community when she won the prestigious Barclays Community Sports Award for 2010-11 and met her hero Kenny Dalglish.
Rabiya, who hails from Preston, won a monthly award and was then picked as the overall season winner by Barclays.
She was acknowledged for her work with the Fishwick Rangers Youth Development Scheme in Lancashire, which is an organisation set up to give people opportunity in sport coming from deprived areas.
Watch our video when Rabiya met King Kenny
Over the last two years Rabiya has worked in a voluntary capacity, establishing a number of schemes for women from ethnic minorities who previously did not take part in any sporting activities.
Rabiya has managed to increase the numbers of ethnic minority women participating in football, and has set up swimming and fitness sessions to increase sporting participation amongst ethnic minority women who have suffered from social exclusion.
She has also managed to encourage a further 25 women to become volunteers like herself.
Due to her commitment to the local community and the positive effect she has had on the women in Preston, Rabiya has been chosen as the first winner of the Barclays Community Sports Award of the Season that is backed by Barclays Spaces for Sports, the Premier League and the Football Foundation.
After picking up her award Barclays made Rabiya's dream come true when she went to Melwood to meet Kenny Dalglish.
Rabiya said: "I have been a Liverpool fan since I was five and to get the chance to meet Kenny Dalglish was fantastic.
"I was nervous before I met Kenny but he was great with me. He is a really nice guy and I also got the chance to have a tour of Melwood which was a once in a lifetime opportunity for me.
"Fishwick Rangers have done a lot to help me and I just wanted to give them something back in return.
"I am delighted to have my work recognised by winning this award. I wanted to increase participation among women in Preston and the prize money will be a great help in continuing the Fishwick Rangers Youth Development Scheme."
Rabiya's uncle Fayyaz Ahmed added: "We are really proud of Rabiya for the incredible work she has done for Fishwick Rangers and the community as a whole."