It was a return to the Heys fans 'go to' pub the Coach and Horses Whitefield for a fun but emotional Prestwich Heys 2023-24 season awards night which also brought the end of an era of joint managers Lee O'Brien and James Hampson who left the club at the end of the season.
Hosted by long standing Heys fan Conrad Mcgeown who thanked everyone especially our hard working volunteers who without them the club could not function and it was fully deserved when he presented the first award of the night the 'volunteer of the season' award to Lloyd and Janice Hyde who do so much behind the scenes. It was also announced that Steve Howard would be returning as club secretary which was a popular choice for everything he contributes.
Next up was my good self! Rick Barrett, I mentioned Matt Davies and Greg Daniels who both polled votes before proudly presenting the fans player of the season award to club captain Aaron Chalmers and fans goal of the season went to full back Nathan Emery for his 40 yard strike v Glossop North End at Adie Moran Park back in February.
Then it was the turn of James and OB who both spoke fondly of the two years managing Heys, OB said some emotional thank you's to myself Steve Howard and Conrad before talking about the experience of working with such a good crop of players and how they had given him and James 100% followed by James presenting managers and players player of the season awards again going to Aaron Chalmers, with Saidkhon Khamidov winning managers club man of the year.
Khamidov could not collect his award because he was on international duty for Uzbekistan!, how great is it to say that for a player in a North West Counties team?!.
Conrad then wrapped things up in a finale that ended up with us all singing our classic terrace song 'God gave Prestwich Heys to you'
Full list of winners below
Volunteers of the season Lloyd and Janice Hyde
Fans player of the season, Aaron Chalmers
Fans goal of the season, Nathan Emery v Glossop NE home
Managers player of the season, Aaron Chalmers
Managers clubman of the season, Saidkhon Khamidov
Managers goal of the season Greg Daniels v AFC Liverpool home
Players player of the season Aaron Chalmers
Top goalscorer Matt Davies 25 goals.
A massive thank you needs to go out to our hosts Sue and Lee Hawley at the Coach and Horses who have supported the club with functions such as this and look after our supporters which is why we call it the fans HQ.
So the end of another era for us and we than Lee, James and the backroom team for everything they have brought to the club.
Having spoken to them they both plan to take time away from the game after a few exhausting years of managment and we wish them the very best of luck for future projects but i'm sure we will see them on the terraces at some point next season watching the odd game!.
We now welcome our new managment team of Russ Saunders and Matty Russell who are very excited to get cracking with pre season ready for the 2024-25 campaign and rest assured us fans will be 100% behind them...bring it on!.
Comments