The Creasey Park Clubhouse was packed on Saturday night as the Coaching and Playing staff, Club sponsors, owners and volunteers celebrated the Club’s successes both on and off the field.
Head Coach, Joe Deeney and his Assistant, Kyle Durcan have transformed the fortunes of the Club. Lying bottom of the Premier League table in October when they arrived, they oversaw a wholesale change in the playing squad and finished in a creditable 9th place which included a 14 game unbeaten League run lasting over four months.
Deeney & Durcan will be looking to add strength and experience to the squad during the summer and make a competitive challenge for silverware next season, but Saturday was all about rewarding all those who work so hard behind the scenes as well as the players’ individual accolades.
Supporters’ favourite and Club legend, Daniel Trif, who completed his 5th season at Creasey Park said his goodbyes and received the coveted Owners’ Player of the Year award. Dan will be heading home later this summer but will always be welcome at Creasey Park. He received a Club Owner’s pack and a special award for his unstinting loyalty and commitment to the Club since his arrival from London Tigers in August 2017 with the Club playing in the Premier Division of the Southern League.
The Manager’s Player of the Year award was impossible to split between Liam McCrohan and Kyle Faulkner, so rather than share it and each have it for six months, they received a trophy each!
J’Ardell Stirling received the Coaching team’s award as their Player of the season.
The Players’ Player of the Year and the award for top goal scorer went to Joe Sellers-West for his one goal every two games record.
The Goal of the Season award was voted for on the night, as wall-mounted TV screens replayed each winning goal of the season. Jack Percy was the deserving recipient for his fearsome strike into the bottom corner away at Aylesbury Vale Dynamos on January 15th.
The Club’s Young Owners chose keeper Dan Gould as their Player of the Season while
Ethan Creary beat off stiff opposition to receive the Young Player of the Year award.
Chair, Andrew Madaras, reminded everyone that as well as the players’ success the Club’s Community Benefit Society activities had provided over 100 hours of physical activity and emotional support, company & friendship and was now supporting nearly 100 people every week.
The final award of the night was for Clubperson of the Year. There was only ever going to be one winner after raising a staggering £8,000 with his fundraising schemes as part of the Blues4-5K L&D Hospital Campaign. The Club was proud to hand over £5K to the Cancer Unit at the Luton & Dunstable University Hospital earlier this year. Peter Bottom is the Club’s Fundraising Manager and won the award unanimously. A magnificent achievement for a man who is so highly respected by all at the Club.
The players now have some well deserved time off before reporting for pre-season training on Thursday, June 30th. An away pre-season friendly at Barnet is scheduled for Saturday 2nd July.
Further details about the Club’s pre-season fixtures will be released as and when confirmed.