Manager Danny Grainger was able to complete his unfinished business with Workington Reds and clinch promotion on his return to Borough Park.
In the Tony Hopper Bar, at the ground for the club’s presentation night he paid tribute to his squad who had ended the season with a promotion and County Cup double.
“They are a great group who have done everything I have asked of them, although I’m sure at times they’ve hated me for that.
“But I’ve always had great belief in them and they showed why with the performances we got from them when we needed them.
“I think everyone involved at the club believes we should really be playing at Conference North, so that has to be our objective and what we have to work towards.
“Personally I can’t wait to get started because that final day, when we clinched promotion, was one of the best moments of my career,” he said.
Heading the award recipients on the night was Dav Symington who topped the 20-goal mark for the first time to be leading scorer. He was awarded goal of the season for one of the four he scored against Witton Albion and he was also a clear winner of the Supporters Player of the Year.
Dan Wordsworth won the prestigious Players’ Player of the Year and both he and another club stalwart Scott Allison received special presentations for passing 300 appearances for the club.
Bobby Carroll, who had been Player of the Year for Everton Under-16’s five years ago, was the Young Player of the Year in his first season at Borough Park.
Two members of the Development Squad who had experienced first team football during the season and were involved in the Fred Conway County Cup triumph over Penrith were also honoured.
Both aged 17, Lewis Moore was Players’ Player of the Year for the Development Squad while Zach Benson-Lester, son of Whitehaven Rugby League legend Aaron Lester, was the Player of the Year.
There were also supplementary awards for Obua Mugalula, four goal man of the match in the County Cup final; Ben Hughes, who capped an injury-ravaged season with a hat-trick in the Cup final; Kai Nugent, for a hugely successful loan spell at the club from Carlisle United and Terry Mitchell, an important addition to the first team group since September, as assistant manager.
The Reds Independent Supporters Club also had two awards – Ruben Jerome (most man of the match awards from away games) and Bobby Carroll (man of the match in play-off final).
The RISC, who have provided vital cash for the parent club over the season, had another presentation to make on the night – a cheque for £5,000 and in addition the long established Reds Supporters Club also handed over a cheque for £5,000 to the club.
Club chairman Phil Norman gave a special thanks to both organisations and praised their efforts over the past 12 months in raising valuable funds for the club.
He then said thank-you’s to a long list of volunteers “without whose valuable help the club could not function as it does.”
“It’s been a really successful season on the field, ending with us clinching promotion and the bonus of winning the County Cup.
“Danny and his team have done superbly and have done what they were asked to do. We are looking forward to playing in the NPL Premier Division and to continue our progress,” he said.
