Ascot United held their end-of season awards night at The Racecourse last night (Thursday).
The carefully planned event comprised an outdoor Barbecue – the clubhouse closed for social distancing measures – and was well attended by players, staff and supporters.
Manager Jamie Tompkins lauded his squad’s achievement in a season where they were on track for promotion before its curtailment, but focussed on the need to move forwards into next season.
Amid the array of recognitions, Sam Gray scooped players’ player of the year, Harry Laflin was the fans’ favourite, and Ian Davies won the golden boot. However, in presenting the latter, Director of Football Neil Richards was quick to recognise the overall contribution Davies has made around the club, including his attention to training details and body conditioning work; the latter having a profound impact on the recovery of team-mate Chris Ellis after recent ACL surgery.
Tompkins also praised his players’ Strava efforts in May which saw two players each run over 350km – Jon Bennett and Laflin – before Tompkins himself took the prestigious Ben Reddy award for his outstanding influence on the club having taken the reigns only two years earlier.
Ahead of the awards, the fans unveiled their own new signing (pictured) – a giant flag bearing the club’s crest, a nod to the “spirit” of last season, the commitment of one fan in particular who is literally indelibly etched into the fabric of the club, and the club’s twitter strapline.
Final thanks go to the man on the coals, Mr Negus, and the ‘hostesses with the mostesses’, Lisa and Jo. And, er, no Barbecue is complete without a cake. Well, nothing is complete without a cake when Lisa is involved!