Ballynahinch United held their Awards Dinner at the weekend at Spa Golf Club. The club celebrated another year, focusing on the positives and a bright future ahead with a number of youth team players making the breakthrough into the senior team appearing for the Swifts, Albion and Firsts and ongoing work to develop the facilities at The Millbridge.
Our new Club Chairman, Anthony Greene, who was voted in at a club AGM on Thursday 15 May, kicked off the evening by thanking the committee, players, fans, volunteers, sponsors and management for their contributions throughout the season and ongoing work.
Matthew Lindsay then kicked off the awards with the Albion’s presentations in their first year after returning. The Albion played a total of 22 games and picked up 3 wins in a difficult season with young players getting used to the demands of senior football. Matthew presented Harry Wilson with the Leading Goalscorer award after bagging 6 goals in just 8 games.
The Albion Manager’s Player of the Year was then presented to Rhys O’Hare after playing the most minutes for the team at just 16, in various positions, scoring 3 goals and contributing throughout the season at training.
Another teenager, Ethan Perkins, picked up the Albion’s Player’s Player of the Year award, winning by just one vote, with 1 goal and 20 appearances.
Gareth Bingham and David Teggarty stepped up to present the Swifts’ awards, with John Stevenson picking up the Leading Goalscorer after being pipped in the final game last season. In contrast, John pipped his rivals to the title in the final game this season, bagging 10 goals in 900 minutes (12 appearances total) in all competitions.
Another experienced player picked up the Manager’s Player of the Year award, awarded to the evergreen Ben Wilson after 11 appearances, with 4 assists and 3 Player of the Match awards throughout the season.
John Stevenson returned to the front after being the runaway leader of the Swifts’ Player’s Player of the Year vote.
First Team Manager, Kyle Rendall and First Team Coach, Ethan Majury stepped up to present the First Team awards, but first, Ethan announced his departure from the coaching staff as he moves to England for the year.
Lee Maxwell was then awarded the First Team’s Leading Goalscorer award after scoring 13 goals in 24 appearances.
The Manager’s Player of the Year award was presented to Chris Coleman after another stellar season at the heart of the defence with 25 appearances and the second most minutes for the first team.
The Player’s Player was award to Club Legend, Scott Brashaw after a consistent season, as always, adding 5 assists and 3 goals to his normal, steady performance. Scott picks up the award for the fourth time and 20 years after winning it for the first time.
The Club Leading Goalscorer was presented to Lee Maxwell with 18 goals overall in all competitions.
Young Player of the Year was awarded to breakthrough star, Charlie Parkinson, at just age 17. Charlie has performed admirably through out the season for each team at the club, without complaint or without putting a foot wrong.
With three teenagers picking up awards, and others breaking through to the first team on occasion, the future is bright for the club with decent performances in their debut year in senior football.
The Club then presented outgoing Chairman Gilbert Cromie a commemorative vase to thank him for his contributions throughout his 26 years as chairman of the club. Gilbert will remain the Club Secretary and key part of the background work of the club.
The club also marked the service of four senior players with Greg Hall, Stuart McMullan, David Kelly and Scott Brashaw presented with framed graphics.
The Club Raffle was then drawn with almost 1000 tickets sold and prizes donated by Spa Golf Club, Montalto Estate and DT Fitness.
Ballynahinch United would also like to thank Spa Golf Club, the staff, and DJ Phil Murray for putting on a great night.
Preseason will return in June with all new players welcome.
Round up
And the winners are…
- Club Leading Goalscorer: Lee Maxwell
- Trevor McNeice Young Player of the Year: Charlie Parkinson
- First’s Player’s Player of the Year: Scott Brashaw
- First’s Manager’s Player of the Year: Chris Coleman
- First’s Leading Goalscorer: Lee Maxwell
- Barry Hayes Memorial Cup Swifts’ Player’s Player of the Year: John Stevenson
- Swifts’ Manager’s Player of the Year: Ben Wilson
- Swifts’ Leading Goalscorer: John Stevenson
- Albion Player’s Player of the Year: Ethan Perkins
- Albion Manager’s Player of the Year: Rhys O’Hare
- Albion Leading Goalscorer: Harry Wilson
Congratulations to all the winners.
Season Statistics
A full overview of each player’s statistics are available.
Raffle winners
- Jamie McNeill – £500
- Ross Hayes – £250
- John McNeminan – £100
- Nigel Neale – £50
- Jonny Mason – 4 ball at Spa Golf Club
- Jackie O’Hare – Montalto Estate Family Pass
- Aaron Ferris – month pass DT Fitness
- Dax Graham – month pass DT Fitness
- Adam Davison – bottle of Poitín
- Lisa McCambridge – bottle of Jaw Box Gin
- R Coleman – bottle of Smirnoff Vodka
- Mark McAleer – bottle of Bells Whiskey
- Jim Majury – bottle of Processo
- Alan Curry – bottle of white wine
- Rebekah Massey – bottle of white wine
- John McNair – bottle of white wine
- Arlene Smiton – bottle of red wine
- Brian Anderson – bottle of red wine
- Chris McGurran – bottle of rosé wine