Arsenal Ladies Striker Rachel Yankey's Youth Games Hall of Fame honour

Published: 29 September, 2011
by STEVE BARNETT

ARSENAL Ladies striker Rachel Yankey was recognised for her career as a world-class athlete when she was officially inducted into the Balfour Beatty London Youth Games Hall of Fame.

In a prestigious ceremony at Lord’s Cricket Ground the former Hampstead schoolgirl was praised for her glittering career, which has seen her win 26 major trophies in club football and gain more than 100 England caps.

After receiving her award, Rachel, who is the official patron of the 2011 London Youth Games, said: “It’s an honour! It’s something I never even thought of or guessed would happen.

“It was a privilege for me especially when you open the programme and you see your name up there with the greats. It’s fantastic.

“The London Youth Games was massive for me. It was the first chance for me to be involved in a team.

It was like the mini-Olympics.

It was nice to contribute something to the borough and it’s a proud moment to say I’ve played for my borough.

“You think I’ve represented the place where I live and my friends. I know some of my friends at school would have loved to have done it but didn’t get picked so it’s a privilege and something I’ll always remember and look back at.”

The Balfour Beatty London Youth Games is Europe’s largest annual youth sports event, with 71,000 participants from 33 London boroughs competing in 60 sports.