Monday 23rd June 2008
2007-08 Presentation Evening - Saturday 21st
June
Rocester
Football Club and their junior section, Rocester Elkes Eagles, held
their annual presentation evening at Hillsfield on Saturday evening.
The
event was attended by well over 200 people, including most of the
players who have now moved on to other clubs since they helped the club
win the Staffordshire Senior Cup in April.
One
of them, defender Danny Smith who is now with Kidsgrove Athletic,
scooped
both the Players Player and the Supporters Player of the Season
awards, while Dave Shaw, who has also linked up with Kidsgrove, received
the Golden Boot for top-scoring with 36 goals.
Another player who has left the club, central defender Mark Ruddock who
is now with Leek Town, received the Managers Player award from boss
Steve Swanwick.
The
manager also handed new team captain Martin Gadsby an award for 'Most
Improved Player'.
In
his speech, Swanwick paid tribute to the players who performed
magnificently to win the Senior Cup at a time when the playing budget
had been stopped, and said the departing players "deserved the
opportunity to play at a higher level".
He
also thanked all the people who help the club out behind the scenes, and
welcomed a number of newcomers to the club including Head Coach Paul Marshman, reserve team manager Kevin
Reeves, youth team manager Nigel Pritchard and goalkeeping coach Des
Wilson.
Last
season's reserve team managers Geoff Thompson and Martin Meylan
presented Gavin Reynolds (Players Player), Jon Lamburn (Top Scorer),
Aaron Plant (Most Improved), Mark Thompson (Managers Player), and Karl
Smith (Supporters Player) with their team awards.
We
would like to thank one of our supporters who wishes to remain anonymous
for donating two free weekends use of a brand new BMW as a reward for
the players. These were won by the scorers of the 'Goal of the Season'
for the first team and reserves - Ashley Sheridan took the first team
honours for his superb strike in the home game against Coventry Sphinx,
and Gary Beardsley claimed the reserve team prize with a fine solo goal
away at Goldenhill Wanderers.
The
Rocester Elkes Eagles were well represented at the awards night, with
all eleven of their teams in attendance to collect their medals. Top
honours went to the Under-15s who finished champions of the Burton
League after going through their league campaign unbeaten, and the
Under-13s who won their League Cup and finished runners-up in the
league. The Under-9s team also finished their league season in second
place.
Chairman Dave Price introduced the teams along with their managers and
coaches, and thanked all those who have helped to run the junior sides.
Following the awards, Mr. Phil Webster presented Dave Price with a
cheque for £6,500 on behalf of the club's new main sponsors Hill &
Webster Ltd (right).
    
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