Debbie Lee has been named as the 2009 Football Woman of the Year (FWOTY) at the Essendon Women’s Network Great Grand Final Comedy Debate at Crown Palladium.
 
Debbie, who is employed as Melbourne Football Club’s community manager, has made a profound contribution to women’s football and local sport since the late 1980s.

She has served on the WVFL Executive in an honorary/voluntary capacity since 1993 and was made President in 2004. She has overseen substantial growth and development in women’s football and is currently a member of the Women’s Football Advisory Board.

Involved in football administration for over 15 years, Debbie continues to be involved in the VWFL, has played over 200 games for the Spurs and is recognised in the National Sports Museum at the MCG.

The FWOTY award is an annual event recognising women who have made a significant contribution to the game of football.

This is the 12th year the prestigious award has been presented by the Essendon Women's Network and it is open to any woman involved in football regardless of club or profession.

The award recognises women who have made a significance difference to football. There are seven criteria the recipient must demonstrate (see criteria below).

The independent panel of judges for the Award is Andrew Demetriou (CEO of the AFL), Caroline Wilson (journalist with The Age) and Helene Bender (a Director of the Geelong FC).

The recipient will have demonstrated:

· Commitment to the support and advancement of football

· A passion for the game

· The ability to make a difference on the football scene

· A keen knowledge of the game, including its history and its future

· Club Membership

· Willingness to advocate publicly for women as partners with men in football

· A sense of humour and fair play.

Past winners of the award include; Irene Chatfield (1998), Jill Lindsay (1999), Caroline Wilson (2000), Katrina Pressley (2001), Beverly Knight (2002 – joint winner), Bev O’Connor (2002 – joint winner), Jenny Williams (2003), Edna Daniher (2004), Jennie Loughnan (2005), Barb Cullen (2006), Terry Bracks (2007), Susan Alberti (2008).