Wes Fogden is awards night star
Mon May 3, 2010 : 09:24
Wes Fogden swept the boards at last night’s awards evening at Westleigh Park. Recognised by fans as being their player of the season, he also picked up the prestigious Players’ Player award too.
In another successful evening, a packed clubhouse enjoyed speeches from club secretary Trevor Brock and also Manager Shaun Gale, who both hinted that the unity displayed on the pitch in the last month of the season will continue straight into next, with most of the side already under contract.
“It was a massive disappointment not to get into the playoffs, but this group of players will be here next season to finish what we’ve started.” Gale said.
“What we can’t do here is break the bank and ruin the club. It needs to be here beyond all of us, and this season that meant putting square pegs in round holes some times. But the players stuck at it and eventually we reached the point where we could bring in the new faces that helped us to where we finished.”
Safeguarding the future of the club was also echoed in comments made by Brock;
“The security of the club is paramount.” He said.
“We want to remain an outfit ready for the Conference National, and one free of debt, and Shaun understands that means there will again be restrictions to the player budget next season. But he has always worked with us, and remains confident of being able to achieve.”
As a consequence Gale was also celebrating a new three year extension to his contract last night, while announcing that academy star Liam Sewell will join Nathan Ashmore next season as the second South Downs player to be offered a first team contract.
When pressed on the matter of players signed up for next season, Brock remained characteristically guarded, but stated as usual there will be no retained list.
“It will be a smoother operation than it has been in past years.” He said.
“Most of the current squad are still under contract, and anybody we want to keep we will. There may be one or two new faces coming in over the summer, and inevitably some going the other way, but the team we’ve got now is what we’re intending to stay with.”
The awards themselves started with the HawkSupport Player of the Month for April, which went to Mustafa Tiryaki. This was followed by the Don Jacks Award, which is presented annually to the player with the highest cumulative number of Player of the Month votes cast throughout the season. Having won the award four times, it was no surprise that this went to Wes Fogden. Manny Williams came second, and Mustafa Tiryaki third.
HawkSupport also select an Unsung Hero award for the season, presented to the player who puts in the most unacknowledged effort, and this went to Jake Newton for his solid and reliable season at right back.
The Supporters’ Player of the Year was won by Wes Fogden, with Manny Williams coming second and Ian Simpemba third.
The Golden Boot went to Williams for his 24 goals scored in all competitions, although Tiryaki’s tremendous end to the season and a total of 20 meant the result was more closely run than might have been expected.
The Young Improver of the Year, an award given to younger players in the squad still developing and chosen by the management, went to Steve Walker.
Academy Manager Stu Page made an emotional speech expressing his passion for a side who have again won their league, and this week head to Southport to participate in the Conference Academy Playoffs; the highest level of competitive youth football outside the professional game.
Page presented Liam Sewell with an award for Outstanding Achievement, and then Tom Froggatt with the Academy Player of the Season.
Also present was Lucy May, recently appointed as head of the women’s side of the Academy at South Downs and also an FA Ambassador. She presented Outstanding Achievement awards to Molly Clark and Lauren Cheshire for their recent call up to the England colleges team, and also Katie Woodhatch and Tiff Taylor, before naming Lauren Paul as the Player of the Season.
As is customary, the awards concluded with the presentation of the Clubman Trophy; an award given to an individual who has made a significant contribution to the club throughout the season. This year the award was given to Ian Radford, whose reports, notes and articles have provided the core of the match day programme this year.
Pictures by Dave Haines
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