The clubhouse hosted this years End of Season Presentation evening with a gathering or players, supporters, members and team management, who enjoyed an evening of food, drink, stories, laughs and trophies.
Chairman Simon Harrington opened the evening and apologised that the event was not to the same standard as the club had previously laid on and promised next season will see the event organised correctly. He went on to congratulate the players, team managers and committee for getting the club through the difficult season and praised everybody’s hard work. Finally, he finished on a high note, with congratulations to our Youth section who had a terrific season, with the under 15’s winning their league and the under 10’s, 13’s & 16’s all finishing runners-up and gaining promotion.
The Horace Ball Memorial Trophy was the first to be presented and this was awarded to retiring club Treasurer, Tim Harries in recognition of his 27 years with FTFC.
The next presentation was for Club Person of the Year, voted for by the 15 committee members. The winner was Secretary Martin Harries, who the Chairman said would be hard to replace as he leaves the club to move onto a new challenge for the coming season and was wished the best of luck.
The presentations moved onto the players and the Young Player of the Year award was announced and it was no surprise that 17 year old Joe Clauson was the outstanding winner of this seasons trophy, voted for by the three management teams.
The A Team management team of Paul Hulme and Nick Wojcik then took over the microphone and whilst disappointed by their final league position, it was felt their performances over the season were better than the table showed. With an influx of youth into the side and the arrival of Dave Clauson to help on match days, the side could be proud of their season. The management team then presented Win Morbey with a bouquet of flowers as a thank you for washing the kit over the season. Announcing the winner of the Managers Player of the Year, Joe Clauson was again asked to step forward and collect the trophy for his consistent first season of senior football and before he could sit down, he was announced as Players Player of the Year as well with two thirds of the votes in his favour from he team-mates.
Town Reserves Manager for season 2015-16, Martin Harries stepped forward to present the teams trophies and thanked his joint manager John Lovegrove and team linesman Andy Jameson for their commitment and help over the season. Harries explained that the sides expectation was to be competitive and exceed the previous seasons Reserves record, which they did in less league games, gaining more points, conceding less goals and finishing higher in the table, however the two semi final exits were disappointing. Harries then announced the Managers Player of the Year and following a consistent season and having already picked up the sides Dick of the Season award, skipper Paul Smith was the worthy winner. The Players Player of the Year trophy was then presented to Max Scholefield, who arrived in pre-season to the club and ended being the main focal point of the side and the changing room and was a very popular winner within his team mates.
And finally, 1st Team manager Darryl Curtis stepped forward and opened by thanking his assistant Simon Harrington for his helped over the last two season, particularly this last one and who will be stepping down from Saturday afternoon team involvement. He went on to thank Paul Hulme for his training sessions with Harrington also Martin Harries for always being available for many questions and regular conversations of player availability. He hoped the players would next season back the management teams and put FTFC back where it belongs, challenging for trophies and give the new Hellenic League campaign 100% commitment. Announcing his Managers Player of the Year award, he praised winner, Josh Forth for his commitment to the side, never say die attitude and attendance record for training. The 1st Team Players Player of the Year was a very close vote, with two players tied, however the casting vote was given to Robbie Harrington who had excelled at centre half and centre forward during the season and won the trophy for a second consecutive season.
So to recap, this seasons winners were:
Horace Ball Memorial Trophy: Tim Harries
Club Person of the Year: Martin Harries
Young Player of the Year: Joe Clauson
A Team Managers Player of the Year: Joe Clauson
A Team Players Player of the Year: Joe Clauson
Reserves Managers Player of the Year: Paul Smith
Reserves Players Player of the Year: Max Scholefield
1st Team Managers Player of the Year: Josh Forth
1st Team Players Player of the Year: Robbie Harrington
