The End of Season Dinner took place at Otley Golf Club on Saturday 10th May where various awards were presented.
Players and staff from the First Team were in attendance and all enjoyed a great evening to end the season.
The tables were once again set so that First Team players sat alongside the supporters with everyone in attendance having a two course meal, a good laugh and an enjoyable evening.
Sue Clapham started the night with a speech to thank everyone for their attendance and to celebrate what has been a good season for the club. Sue then went on introduce Danny and Sadie Smith from Scholar’s Bar in Scarborough, the bar sponsored Joe Cracknell this season. Unfortunately Joe could not attend the dinner so Supporters’ Club Vice Chair Person Ian Johnson presented the Supporters’ Club Craig Shearstone Player of the Season award to Danny and Sadie on Joe’s behalf.
The Freda Collinson Rose Bowl, Volunteer of the Year award was presented to Raise The Roof by Freda’s son Guy. The Raise The Roof committee, which includes James Broome, Mark Lewis, Adam Hodgson and Pete Gable, have successfully fundraised for a new covered stand to be installed at the Railway End of the ground, full details here.
Media Team Manager, Colin Robertson, then introduced a new award. The first winner of the Media Team Member of the Season went to Matt Anderson, The Yorkshire Photographer. Matt has followed the club home and away this season capturing the action both on and off the pitch. Colin also made a speech to thank the media team for their work with the room clapping all of the club’s volunteers.
Chairman, Gary Douglas, then thanked Sue for arranging the dinner and praised all the volunteers who make the club tick before presenting the Sponsors’ Player of the Season award. Will Longbottom and John Lufudu were joint winners with Will making a speech after finishing the campaign as top scorer, unfortunately John could not attend the dinner.
Club captain Jameel Ible was next to hold a speech to thank everyone at the club for the season as well as touching on the run to the play off final. Ible then announced Prince Ekpolo as the winner of the Players Player of the Season. Prince took to the mic to talk about his love for the club and how proud he was to win the award.
The second ever winner of the John Bridson Lions Legend Award was revealed after a short speech by Adam Bridson who was joined by John’s wife Lynn and eldest son David to present the award. Paul McGreavy has run away travel for over 15 years to 370 away games, providing a vital service to our supporters. After being presented with the John Bridson Lions Legend Award, Paul made a speech to thank everyone for their support.
Mark Bower finished off the award presentations by announcing Ollie Brown as the Young Player of the Season and Lebrun Mbeka as the Manager’s Player of the Season. Both Ollie and Lebrun were presented with their awards by the gaffer and did a speech to thank the fans and players for the season. Mark then held a speech about his return to the club, thanking his staff, the directors, supporters, volunteers and club staff for their contributions to a campaign the almost delivered promotion.
The raffle and auction then took place with over £700 raised for the Football Club and Supporters’ Club.
A full round-up of the award winners:
Craig Shearstone Guiseley AFC Supporters’ Club Player of the Season – Joe Cracknell
Sponsors’ Player of the Season – Will Longbottom and John Lufudu
Players’ Player of the Season – Prince Ekpolo
Eric Waite Memorial Award, Manager’s Player of the Season – Lebrun Mbeka
Young Player of the Season Award, Michael Schofield Shield – Ollie Brown
Freda Collinson Rose Bowl, Volunteer of the Season – Raise The Roof, James Broome, Mark Lewis, Adam Hodgson and Pete Gable
The John Bridson Lions Legend Award – Paul McGreavy
Media Team Member of the Season – Matt Anderson, The Yorkshire Photographer
You can view a full gallery imagery from the End of Season Dinner here.
