Jermaine Jenas with his Women's Football Ally Award Credit: Getty Images/Kate Green
Stunned women's football fans reacted with surprise after of Jermaine Jenas winning the Women's Football Ally of the Year award despite it not being immediately clear what exactly he had done to help women's football.
Jenas was awarded the prize at the glamorous Women's Football Awards event in London on Thursday and baffled social media users who created tongue-in-cheek memes asking what the former England, Tottenham and Newcastle midfielder had done to deserve the accolade.
Jermaine Jenas, name one women's football player who is not a lioness?
Jermaine: pic.twitter.com/lb21BbYElL
— Joe Louis Monte (@Jolomoco) May 30, 2024
Let's not forget that Jermaine Jenas struggled with the pouring rain (sprinkler) during the 2017 European Women's Championship
A worthy women's tournament, winner of the “Football Ally” award 👏 pic.twitter.com/IhACHUoIYP
— Joe, 5 times in a row ⭐️ (@ChelseaShurrle) May 30, 2024
I don't say this lightly, but I actually think Jermaine Jenas knows more about Formula E, than himself. women's football. https://t.co/XGaHtwktuU
— Megan Cantle (@megancantle99) May 30, 2024
In the more traditional categories, England head coach Sarina Wigman was named Coach of the Year after leading the Lionesses to the World Cup final last summer, while Manchester City's Jamaican striker Bunny Shaw was named Player of the Year after winning The Women's Super League Golden Boot
The Young Player Award went to FA Cup-winning Manchester United centre-back Maya Le Tissier, while Alex Scott received the Broadcaster of the Year award. Notably, former England captain Steph Houghton was also awarded the 2024 Inspirational Role Model Award after announcing her retirement.
Before the awards night, the public cast more than 25,000 votes. However, the Jenas Prize was one of the awards that was not voted on by the public and was instead chosen by the sponsor, Metro. It was one of four “special” awards, another of which led to Kerry Davies, the first black woman to represent England, receiving a lifetime achievement award.
Speaking to the Women's Football Awards social media accounts afterwards, Jenas said: “I'm really proud, actually. Personally, I've always just been about who I am as a person, so to receive this kind of “ally” award for the women's game, as special as it is, I'm just a little bit like, “Well, I'm just trying to be myself.”
“I've always been a big supporter of women's sports, I have three daughters, you know, I was raised by my mom, so I've always been a big supporter of women in sports in general, so it's nice. I have to say that I was recognized for simply being myself. I really appreciate that, so thank you very much.”
Becky Taylor-Gill of the women's soccer podcast Counter Pressed noted on X that searches for Jenas' account are accompanied by search terms such as “WSL.” or “Women's Super League” were left blank.
pic.twitter.com/F0MoSpFtSv
— Becky Taylor-Gill (@beckytaylorgill) May 30, 2024 It's time to give up this award
Jenas seems like a nice guy and seems to treat women with respect. Big. But no one should get a medal for this.
This award has nice intentions, but it doesn't actually have to exist. As Jenas said, he seemed to be recognized for simply being himself. Unfortunately, there are thousands – perhaps millions – of men around the world who treat women horribly, but that doesn't mean men don't deserve applause for simply not being bad people.
It was similar. There was confusion among WSL fans when Harry Kane was awarded the award last year, with many speculating that the award would be discontinued. But if the organizers insist on continuing this process, there are much more deserving honorees who have had a significant impact on the women's game.
Outgoing Arsenal chief executive Vinai Venkatesham, for example, would have received widespread praise if he had been recognized this summer for his off-field efforts to make the Emirates home to Arsenal's women's team.
What about Paul Green, Chelsea's general manager and the mastermind behind much of the transfer strategy that helped Emma Hayes win a record seven WSL titles? Or Brighton's Paul Barber, who played an influential role behind the scenes in Brighton's funding of modern facilities for its women's and women's teams? Or an eloquent pundit like former Arsenal and England striker Ian Wright, who is a genuine fan of the WSL and actively seeks to help promote it on a regular basis.
But I doubt either of these people will want recognition of all this. That's not why they're in the women's game.
Jenas gave an acceptance speech on stage that was described by many of the participants as one of the longest of the evening, in which he, to his credit, said that he hoped that ” the day will come when we won't even need this reward.”
Well, that day has already come.
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