Middlesbrough Ladies goal machine Bianca Owens savoured a memorable career moment on Friday night after being named FA WPL Northern Division Top Goal Scorer at the FA Women’s Football Awards.

The striker picked up her prize at the annual awards ceremony, which saw the stars of women’s football gather to celebrate a memorable year in the women’s game.

The awards also highlighted the success of The FA’s ‘Gameplan for Growth’, launched earlier in 2017, which aims to double participation and the fan base of the women’s game by 2020 and create sustained success at elite international level.

Owens played a crucial role in guiding Middlesbrough to a runner-up finish in a fantastic year which saw her find the net 20 times for Lindsey Stephenson’s side.

The number nine hit the headlines in 2015 when she scored eight times in an FA Cup game for Boro, before going on to repeat the feat a month later in the league.

Speaking at the awards ceremony at Grosvenor House Hotel in London, an ecstatic Owens said she hoped to emulate her deadly form in front of goal again this season.

“My team finished second in the league last season, but to finish as top goal scorer in the league was quite an honour to be honest,” said the former Sunderland AFC Ladies forward.

“In terms of setting targets for the new season, I’d love to win this award again – that would be a personal goal.

“But from a team perspective, it would be great to go one better and win it this year.”

The FA Women’s Football Awards celebrated an exciting year for women’s football and recognised the achievements of clubs, players, staff and the excellent work by volunteers at the grassroots level of the game.

Baroness Sue Campbell, head of women’s football at The Football Association said: “It has been a landmark year for women’s football in England.
“We’ve seen the Lionesses capture the imagination of the nation, a record crowd at the SSE Women’s FA Cup Final, the excitement of a final day decider in The FA WSL Spring Series and growing participation numbers.

“All of this has been underpinned by the announcement of FA’s new women’s strategy Gameplan for Growth, which we believe will transform the future of the women’s game.”

For more information and to see all the award winners visit www.thefa.com/forgirls Join the conversation online using the hashtag #FAWomensAwards.