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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