The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
TROPHY MAGNET: Nathan Stainfield (centre) won four awards at the end of season bash. Photo by NIKKI GRIFFIN
Talismanic defender Nathan Stainfield picked up four of the five awards on offer at Spalding United’s end of season awards night.
The popular centre back was named manager’s player of the season, players’ player of the year, and supporters’ player of the year at the Springfields Events Centre bash on Saturday – while also winning the man-of-the-match series trophy.
Tulips’ chief Pat Rayment, who guided the club to the UCL Premier Division title, feels that Stainfield’s four-midable haul of trophies is the perfect reward for a player he holds in the highest regard.
“It was a no brainer,” said Rayment. “Nathan has been head and shoulders above everyone in the league.
“He plays every game like a cup final and put his body on the line each and every week for us.
“It wasn’t a hard choice at all, he’s a lad that everyone at the club has a lot of respect for and it’s just reward for a fantastic season.
“Overall it was a fantastic night and a superb way to end a top season.”
The other trophy up for grabs was the ‘Golden Boot’, which was won by Andrew Tidswell. He notched 38 goals (30 in the league) despite not playing a game in 2014 because of injury.
Amazingly, his 30-goal haul was also enough to secure the UCL Premier Division’s golden boot award for the second year on the spin.
He received his award from the Tulips’ director of football Bob Don-Duncan.
Rayment feels sure that goal-machine Tidswell would have run Stainfield close had he remained fit for the entire season.
He added: “Obviously Andrew would have rivalled Nathan if he hadn’t been so badly hit by injury.
“I said at the start of the season that he’d get 50 or 60 goals – and that would have been the case if he’d been fit all year.”
There was also a surprise award for club persons of the year, instigated by new chief executive Malcolm Gray.
Committee member Ray Tucker handed over that prize to husband and wife Andrew and Jennifer Gay.
Musical entertainment for the evening was provided by local group ‘The Saturday Night Specials’.
- Spalding have added another game to their pre-season schedule.
They will visit old UCL Premier Division rivals St Ives Town on Saturday, August 9 (3pm) ahead of the start of the Evo-Stik League First Division South campaign the following weekend.
