Chalford represented and first ever father & son nominees in End of Season Awards
Departing Chalford managers Ben Powell & Ben Newman, striker Andy Maryon and father & son goalkeepers Adam and Billy Thomas have been shortlisted in the End of Season Awards.
Every year Severn Sport looks to recognise all of those players, managers, clubs and individuals who make grassroots football in Gloucestershire special!
GNSL Division One Champions, Chalford, will be under new management next season regardless of the division they find themselves in after Powell and Newman announced their departure at the end of the season. They have been shortlisted for Manager of the Season after steering their side to back-to-back league titles.
Chalford’s striker Andy Maryon has scored 18 goals in 28 appearances and has had to play a number of games at centre half to help his side in matches this season. Maryon has been nominated for the Grassroots Player of the Season award for his efforts.
And for the first time ever, we have a father and son both on the shortlist, with Adam Thomas and Billy Thomas both up for the Kinetic Goalkeeping Goalkeeper of the Season award.
Adam has made 30 appearances for the title winning side, whilst Billy started the season at Shortwood United, before being snapped up by Swindon Supermarine and also ending the season on loan at Tuffley Rovers. Billy also finished runner-up in this category last season.
Below are the 15 categories and who has been nominated so far:
Signing of the Season – Karnell Chambers (Tuffley Rovers), George Neill (Slimbridge); Mel Hoad (Longlevens Ladies); Leah Whiffen (AEK Boco Ladies); Josh Roney (Hartpury University); Harry Emmett (Gloucester City); Jay Griffiths (Bibury); Blaine Waugh (Cinderford Town); Ben Vine (Cinderford Town)
Game of the Season
Manager of the Season – Matthew Driscoll (Cinderford Town); Dan Ray & Karen Messenger (Cirencester Town Ladies); Neil Mustoe (Tuffley Rovers); Abi Nicholas (AEK Boco Ladies); Martin Longworth (Hartpury University); Dan Gough (Fairford Town Reserves); Ben Powell & Ben Newman (Chalford)
Team of the Season – Avonmouth; Cirencester Town Ladies; Longlevens Ladies: AEK Boco Ladies; Hartpury University; Rising Stars; Fairford Town Reserves
Breakthrough Player of the Season – Connor Walters (Tuffley Rovers), Erin Read (AEK Boco Ladies); Toby Holland (Bishops Cleeve); Callum McGuirk (Tuffley Rovers); Jack Smith (Slimbridge); Harry Burns (Cirencester Town); Harry Emmett (Gloucester City); Jay Griffiths (Bibury); Josh Jones (Cinderford Town)
Severn Sport Live Player of the Season
Match Official of the Season – Ian Butler
Kinetic Goalkeeping Goalkeeper of the Season – Stephen Sarkodie (Hartpury University); Lewis Clayton (Bishops Cleeve); Leah Whiffen (AEK Boco Ladies); Ashli Whitbury (Gloucester City Women); Ellis Parker (Slimbridge); Georgina Macey (Dursley Town Ladies); Natasha Hibbert (SGS Olveston United Women); Adam Fenner (Tredworth Tigers); Adam Thomas (Chalford); Billy Thomas (Shortwood United/Tuffley Rovers)
John Ashplant Local Hero Award
Best Social Media Account – @SWSportsNews
Jamie Hyett Award (U18s Player of the Season) – Alex Knight (Longlevens U18s), Erin Read (AEK Boco Ladies); Scarlett Boyce (Cirencester Town Ladies); Riley McGregor (Hartpury University); Liberty Ross (Gloucester City Women); Will Tainton (Slimbridge U18s); Haydn Evans (Dursley Town U18s)
Severn Sport Future Star
Men’s Player of the Season – Ethan Dunbar (Bishops Cleeve); George Neill (Slimbridge); Toby Holland (Bishops Cleeve); Karnell Chambers (Tuffley Rovers); King Baidoo (Hartpury University); Ben Baxter (Hartpury University); Rudi McKinnon (Slimbridge); Fin Byrnes (Shortwood United); Craig Norman (Cinderford Town); Lee Smith (Tredworth Tigers)
Women’s Player of the Season – Jess Titcomb (AEK Boco Ladies); Jodie Bailey (Cirencester Town Ladies); Lucy Scrannage (Cirencester Town Ladies), Libby Messenger (Cirencester Town Ladies); Lorraine Smith (Longlevens Ladies); Olivia Kosylowicz (Longlevens Ladies); Aimee Clark (AEK Boco Ladies); Zoe Gabb (Gloucester City Women Devs); Leonie Gough (Bishops Cleeve Ladies); Leah Rhodes (Cheltenham Saracens Women)
Grassroots Player of the Season – Meg Sterry (Gloucester City Women Development); Lucy Dannatt (Longlevens Ladies); Millie Lacey (AEK Boco Ladies); Mirry Smith (Gloucester City Women Development); Kate Ambrey (Gloucester City Women); Ubaid Saleh (Rising Stars); Sanchez Grange (Boss FC); Andy Maryon (Chalford)
Speaking about the latest nominees to come completely from the public nominations, Butler had this to say:
“What a title race once again in the Northern Senior League. To have five teams in it with about a month to go made it fascinating to watch.
Chalford went under the radar due to the amount of games in hand they had in December and they knew that they had to be near perfection to get over the line.
Sometimes when Managers announce they are leaving at the end of the season, the hangover lasts from then on and the season fizzles out, but not here. Powell and Newman are going out in a blaze of glory and they will have a legacy at Chalford, regardless of what happens in the play-offs.
Andy Maryon has been fantastic. With Jack Hughes heading to Brimscombe, Maryon was looked to in order to replace those goals and between he, Ryan Harry and Ben Minnican in particular, Chalford have done that. – he has also broken the curse of not being able to score when Severn Sport are in town too!
I have been a massive fan of Billy Thomas since his Slimbridge Reserves days and his journey is one I watch with anticipation of what’s next, he has the right mentality and drive to go as far as possible – and that comes from Adam.
Adam has been on the breakfast show as recently as this season talking about still playing in goal week in/week out for Chalford at his age and it’s frightening at just how good he still is. One of the best keepers in the league and is pivotal to Chalford’s success.”
Check back tomorrow morning when we will be announcing the next batch of nominees in this year’s End of Season Awards!
