Centurion Lacrosse is pleased to announce that the 2022 Centurion Award has been made to Alison Cara for her services to lacrosse.
Alison has now been involved in lacrosse for more than 20 years as a key administrator and volunteer across numerous sections of the sport, and Alison and her husband will join Centurion Lacrosse at their House of Lords dinner to receive her award.
The Centurion Award is a now biennial honour given to people considered to be worthy of recognition for the meritorious service that they have given to the game over the years, either on or off the field of play.
Typical of the reasons for an award are exceptional performance as a player; remarkable improvement in a player’s performance; exceptional contribution in developing new universities, schools, junior teams or clubs, or long service in support of such organisations.
Alison Cara joined Brooklands Hulmeians Lacrosse Club in 1998 when her eldest son started playing lacrosse and became team manager for junior teams throughout both of her sons’ playing careers.
Alongside this she took over running of the lacrosse clubs school development programme working with 40+ schools and helped manage the overseas coaches at the club.
She also took on the role of club secretary, membership secretary and joined the Sports Club Board, roles that she continues to carry out today.
After attending Junior and Schools North meetings for the club Alison took over as fixtures secretary (for U12s, U14s, U16s and U19s), and shortly after this she was elected as Chair.
She continues to hold both positions and during her tenure has overseen the growth and development of U8 and U10 lacrosse, the expansion of the cup and plate competitions and is currently helping to grow the junior game and increase the participation and retention of players. Due to this work, Alison also sits on numerous organising committees, including National Lacrosse Committee.
She has also been involved with the England Boys Academy since its inception across all age groups and has worked to develop the impact and engagement with this talent pathway. Alison also organises and manages the Lancashire teams for both the youth and senior county games.
Alison became the England Men’s U19 team manager in 2010 and is now on her third world championship cycle with the squad evolving to U21s; successfully taking teams to the 2012 games in Finland (finishing 4th), 2016 games in Vancouver (finishing 5th) and soon taking a team to the 2022 games in Limerick.
During her decades in being a major part of the development of junior lacrosse, the sport has firmly become a large part of Alison’s life and we hope the she continues to be a part of it for many years to come.
Congratulations, Alison, and thank you from both England Lacrosse and Centurion Lacrosse for all you have given to the sport.