The second Thatcham Town Presentation Evening was held on Friday 7th July, at the Carlisle and District Railway Club. Seven awards were due to be given out, along with flowers and whisky for some of the unsung and unseen staff of the club, with the guests of honour Mr Colin Seel and Mr George Dobbins the President of the Northern Alliance, on hand to carry out the duties.
Mr Seel presented flowers to Anita Neale, Maureen Jackson, Amanda Linden, Christine Douglas, and Mary Alexander, while Stuart Dodd and George Dobbins both received whisky. The club also gave Mrs Seel some flowers as a thanks for her attendance.
The team was then presented with its Combination Cup medals by the clubs honorary president, Mr Dickie Wilson, and these were handed to the squad for the final, while Mr Dobbins presented First Division Championship medals to the players who had competed in fifteen or more matches. Club Captain Robbie Short lifted both trophies.
Mr Wilson was then on hand again to award nineteen year old midfielder Darren Addison the trophy for Most Improved Player of the Year, while Colin Seel presented Goal of the Season to Richie Ellwood, who bagged thirteen in total during the season.
The next award to be given out was Club Sportsman, and Geoff Andrews presented this to Harley Freemantle, while George Dobbins presented a total of four trophies to the Northern Alliances leading marksman, Lee Otway, for his scoring exploits throughout the season.
Club Secretary Mike Linden presented his choice for player of the year, which was won by a camera shy Steven Skinner, while Assistant Manager Mark Neale presented the Managers Player of the Year award to Club Captain Robbie Short, praising his focus and desire to win.
Before the conclusion of the presentations, Thatcham’s Manager and Assistant Manger Jimmy McMurdo and Mark Neale were presented with commemorative tankards by Mr Dobbins.
The final award saw Robbie Short take the stage again to present defender Ally Lang with the Players Player of the Year.
The club thanked everyone for their attendance and Colin Seel commented that, at a time where the financial influence in football was ruining the sport, Thatcham Town had helped restore his faith in the game he loved.