Annual Awards Night a resounding success
With 192 tickets sold for the Annual Dinner, it was always going to be a lively occasion. The numbers attending had necessitated a new home as we had outgrown the Solstice so we were thrilled to be able to secure the Buckingham Suite which is one of the city’s premier event venues.
The evening more than lived up to our expectations – the food was excellent, the wine and beer flowed, and the air of celebration was palpable. With every one of our 13 teams represented, and several of our junior sides there in force. MC Andy Cave once again presided over the evening with his usual aplomb.
The raffle prizes included tickets for POSH, Leisure Centre gift passes, boxes of crisps (much appreciated by the winners!) as well as a range of spirits, wine, beer, cider and some very expensive chocolates. We raised a fabulous £400 for the club which exceeded all expectiations.
The awards included the team awards from captains and managers, as well as the annual club awards headlined by Michael Green who collected the presitigious Clubman of the Year award for his dedication to goalkeeping this year – despite being on crutches having broken his leg at the Brrummitt Mixed Tournament last weekend. Michael travelled to 9 away games in a row at the start of the season, and played so many times against different Saffron Walden teams that he became almost a member there! The Team of the Year went to the Ladies 1st XI, for winning promotion back to Div 1 N at the first attempt, providing a fitting ending to manager Lawrie Sullivan’s time at the helm as he announced his retirement. Brendan Sullivan lifted the Chairman’s Award for his dedication as 3rd XI captain this season in what was probably the most difficult job in the club. Ladies and Men’s Senior players were Nicole Duffin and Neil Evans, whilst Lyn Tancred and Adam Wilson collected the Leading Goalscorer awards. Kat Dudley, Jess Amps, Sam Anderson and Nicky Reddy won the Junior Player of the Year awards and Luke Barkworth aged just 14 collected the Goalkeeper of the Year – no doubt this won’t be the last we hear of this group!
The full list of winners is :
| Clubman of the Year | Michael Green |
| Team of the Year | Ladies 1sts |
| Chairman’s Award | Brendan Sullivan |
| Ladies Senior Player | Nicole Duffin |
| Ted Belton Trophy – Men’s Senior Player | Neil Evans |
| Ladies Top Goalscorer | Lyn Tancred |
| Men’s Top Goalscorer | Adam Wilson |
| Peter Lambert Trophy – Goalkeeper of the Year | Luke Barkworth |
| Men’s Junior Player | Nicky Reddy |
| Ron Ballantyne Trophy – Men’s Young Player | Sam Anderson |
| Ladies Junior Player | Jess Amps |
| Ladies Young Player | Kat Dudley |
| Ladies Services to Hockey | Sue Drake |
| Men’s 9ths Player of the Year | Jacob Hings |
| Men’s 8ths Player of the Year | Hamish Leeds |
| Ladies 4ths Player of the Year | Lara Wade |
| Men’s 7ths Player of the Year | Steve Browning |
| Men’s 6ths Captains Player | Mark Fowler |
| Men’s 6ths Player’s Player | Kunal Patel |
| Ladies 3rds Captain’s Award | Emilie Morris |
| Ladies 3rds Player of the Year | Charlotte Lloyd |
| Men’s 5ths Player’s Player | Louis Bowden |
| Men’s 5ths Player of the Year | Wayne Humphreys |
| Men’s 4ths Captain’s Player | Joe Lester |
| Men’s 4ths Player’s Player | Joe Lester |
| Men’s 4ths Manager’s Player* | Matt Carson |
| Ladies 2nds Player’s Player | Nikki Harris |
| Ladies 2nds Captain’s Player | Georgie Wilkinson |
| Men’s 3rds Most Improved Player | Peter Taylor |
| Men’s 3rds Player of the Year | Joe Phillips |
| Men’s 2nds Player of the Year | Oscar Saikot |
| Men’s 2nds Manager’s Player of the Year | Adam Wilson |
| Men’s 2nds Captain’s Player of the Year | Trevor Matthews |
| Men’s 2nds Player’s Player of the Year | Julian Catto |
| Ladies 1sts Player’s Player | Tierney Augustine |
| Ladies 1sts Captain’s Player | Lisa Deacon |
| Men’s 1sts Player’s Player | Neil Evans |
| Men’s 1sts Player of the Year | Ross Booth |
