Genuine stars of the county soccer scene were honoured as Somerset Football Association held its annual awards evening.
The occasion, witnessed by more than 200 enthusiastic people gathered at Somerset County Cricket Club's Taunton HQ, was an opportunity for Somerset FA to recognise and reward outstanding contribution and achievement to football by leagues, clubs and volunteers within Somerset over the last 12 months.
Awards were presented within 27 different categories on the evening, eight of which were sponsored by McDonald's through the FA's Community Awards scheme, while selected awards were sponsored by Ivan Rendall and Co Accountants, Somerset Activity & Sports Partnership (SASP) and Bridgwater College.
Special guests on the evening were Lucy Wellings (FA national business manager), Simon Wood, FA regional business manager) and Somerset FA board members.
The first three awards pertained to Charter Standard Club of the Season, which saw Whitchurch JFC take the 'club' prize, Chew Valley JFC the 'development' honours and Avishayes Combe JFC /Combe St Nicholas FC the 'community' category. Each club were said to have gone that "extra mile" in providing "top-notch footballing opportunities" in the local area.
Purnell Sports picked up the new Empowering Youth Award for their efforts in supporting and developing the younger generation within their club, while Charter Standard Coach of the Season went to Keynsham Town JFC's Dave Sainsbury, whose "superb efforts" led to him also winning the South West Regional Award within this category.
The Young Volunteer of the Season distinction was handed to Midsomer Norton JFC's Darren Cox, a product of the club's "superb focus" on developing young individuals through football, while Volunteer of the Season went to the "very impressive" Bill Knowles, who has been a "superb servant" for Minehead FC.
Elsewhere Taunton & District Saturday League representatives were proud recipients of the Charter Standard League of the Season. The organisation is one of Somerset's leading Charter Standard Leagues and not content with that, it also picked up the South West Regional Award within this particular category. The Somerset Floodlight Under-18 League was also recognised on the evening for its "superb efforts" in gaining Charter Standard League status during the season.
Female Coach of the season went to Alix Tucker (Ashton JFC and Whitchurch JFC) for her "wonderful contribution" to female football on a weekly basis, while Mendip Girls picked up the Female Club of the Season award. Somerset FA Under-18s Girls representative squad were also presented with their South West U-18 Championship trophy on the evening.
Elsewhere, there were deserved awards for Young Referee of the Season, and Female Referee of the Season, to Ryan Sainsbury and Stacey Pearson respectively, who have both built up reputations as two of the best young referees in the county. Savvas Yianni took home the prestigious Referee of the Season award, while Kevin Johnson was awarded for his Outstanding Achievement in Refereeing by gaining Football League status.
Disability Club of the Season went to Park Knowle FC; George Mapletoft (Lufton College) picked up Disability Coach of the Season for his efforts within disability football, and Wells Blue School were also rewarded for their "wonderful efforts" with inclusive football.
The Somerset County League (commended), Blackmore Vale League (commended), Taunton and District Saturday League (bronze) and Yeovil Mini League (bronze) picked up Respect League Awards for "super efforts" in promoting and implementing the FA's Respect programme throughout the season.
Shepton Mallet's Gary Banfield, regarded as one of the best secretaries in Somerset, received the Secretary of the Season accolade, while Cutters Friday picked up Most Improved Football Club.
The Welfare Officer of the Season award went to Sara Barrow (Wembdon JFC) for her "tremendous efforts" with safeguarding children, while Milborne Port Under-8s, and Bishop Lydeard Under-14s, picked up the boys' and girls' Fair Play awards for the season.
There was deserved recognition too for a host of dedicated volunteers of the local game. Bryan Wells (Somerset FA Cup Committee chair), Lester Clements (Somerset Representative secretary), Dave Butler (Portishead JFC secretary), Colin Thurston (Frome Town Sports secretary), Brian Hobbs (Portishead JFC chair) and Keith Harrison (Coleford FC secretary) all picked up Long Service awards for their "truly unbelievable" commitment to football within Somerset.
Wayne Thorne (Larkhall Athletic manager), Dave Aries (Tone Youth secretary) and Simon Browning (Whitchurch JFC chair) all received County Grassroots Heroes awards. The audience heard that Thorne and Browning both overcame adversity during the season, yet went on to achieve "so much" in their respective roles, while Aries' "astonishing efforts and commitment" saw him receive numerous nominations within the local area.
The final award of the evening was for Outstanding Contribution to Community Football, which was handed to the "outstanding" Richard Smale of Keynsham Town JFC, who "lives and breathes football" and is an "instrumental figure" at the club.
The evening was closed by Somerset FA director of development, Bob Hemburrow, while the county association's chief executive Jon Pike said: "I would like to congratulate all of the winners on their thoroughly deserved awards. All of them have done an outstanding job in their particular field and I am pleased that we can recognise and acknowledge that achievement.
"To win one of these awards is very difficult as we are very lucky in Somerset to have many excellent volunteers at clubs throughout the county. While we are recognising the very best of our volunteers, I should also like to take this opportunity to thank all of our volunteer workforce, without which grassroots football could not survive. The strength of the game in Somerset is in large part due to their efforts.
"I would also like to thank McDonald's for their support of the National Awards and to Bridgwater College, Ivan Rendall & Co and SASP for their support of our county awards AND grassroots football in general, which is greatly appreciated."
