Thanks to everyone who attended a fairly emotional yesterday evening. Pleased that so many stayed on after the awards. Thought the easiest way of relaying the events of the evening would be to post the script I’d done for myself.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARDS NIGHT – MAY 3rd 2008
ETHEL STELFOX AWARD
This award, in honour of the sadly departed Tom “Mr Witton” Stelfox’s late wife Ethel who worked so tirelessly and voluntarily over many seasons at our old and deeply cherished Central Ground was inaugurated many years back now as a reward, from the club, to individuals who contributed, just like Ethel did, to the day to day tasks so vital to ensure Witton Albion Football Club functioned. I personally have been most honoured to receive this accolade twice and I really treasure such recognition.
I can not possible imagine how Tom, Ethel and the many loyal servants from the past will feel given the current and dreadful state of what’s happened over the past few days, I’d imagine all would be turning in their graves to see this happy club now possibly reduced to a sad shadow.
Nominated by the Board of Directors and can I ask Mark Harris to come and present it please. The award, and as always, fully justified this season is in fact a joint award in recognition of the hours and hours of work needed to ensure actual matches take place – and remember as well as our First Team both Runcorn Linnets and the Cheshire Police teams games have been accommodated at Wincham Park. The joint winners therefore are PETE ROBINSON & BOB HUNTER.
RESERVE TEAM PLAYERS’ PLAYER OF THE YEAR
The winner is DANNY GLEAVE who made a 1st team appearance against Gateshead in the League Cup on February 9th.
RESERVE TEAM MANAGER’S PLAYER OF THE YEAR
The winner MATT WOOLLEY who as well as making a couple of First Team appearances, full 90 minutes against Curzon Ashton and last Tuesday off the bench v Buxton has also been the captain of the Cheshire FA Youth Team this season
GOAL OF THE SEASON AWARD
Just like last season this campaign has also seen many quality goals amongst the 106 that our team racked up. Again choosing a scorer was a difficult task, however this player, back from a three month league absence after knee surgery, had only been on the pitch for 3 minutes when with the scores level and only 6 minutes left he struck an unstoppable 25 yard strike to the top corner that was a worthy match winner on January 12th against Ilkeston Town. The winner, for the 2nd year in succession is ALEX BROWN.
MOST IMPROVED PLAYER
This award is nominated by the Management Team, who last season chose Liam Brownhill and just look what Liam’s gone on to achieve this season, 2 England “C” International Caps with possibly more to come later this month in North Wales. Can I please ask “The Gaffer” to come forward to announce and present this award to IAN KEARNEY.
MANAGER’S PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Following on and with Jim still stood next to me we now have the player that the Manager has chosen for this award. Again Jim please can you present this award to LIAM BROWNHILL.
PLAYERS’ PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Recipients of this award take it as a great honour to be acknowledged by their fellow team-mates and be especially singled out to earn this achievement. It’s a saying in football that you need to start at the back and build up. Well the winner may have been right at the back of the team but he’s way ahead in our league. He played in every league match and in exactly half of them wasn’t beaten. It is of course our goalie JON KENNEDY
SUPPORTERS PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2nd Runner-Up
We move now to the players voted for by the true Wittoners out on the terraces and in the stand. The player voted into 3rd spot wasn’t with us all season, it was early October when he arrived on the scene but boy oh boy what an impression he quickly made when called upon to fill the gap left when Alex was forced out by injury. He even scored in each of his first couple of games it is: DAVE MacPHERSON
SUPPORTERS PLAYER OF THE YEAR Runner-Up
In his 2nd spell at Witton this time has even surpassed what he achieved first time around. Now made 126 appearances and will consider to have really done his job in 51 matches it is JON KENNEDY
SUPPORTERS PLAYER OF THE YEAR
On now to the main award of the evening and the player chosen by the true fans of Witton Albion Football Club as their Player of the Season goes to a player who has just completed two outstanding seasons with us. Last season he was voted into 3rd place but after repeating his feat of scoring 30 goals again this time around the winner is ADAM WARLOW.
Before I close I’d just like to single Neil Wilson out for organizing this evening, I think it’s fair to say Neil, if it wasn’t for you then we may well not have been at this particular venue, in numbers, tonight.