Percy Park RFC 201/22 Season Awards Night
Awards, S***bags and Hot Tubs
On Friday 6th May 2022 Percy Park RFC held their end of season awards ceremony within the Long room on Preston Avenue. An event well attended by all our senior teams. A Happy Hour enticed many in before proceedings kicked off late, causing the nights compere Tim Walker to have an OCD breakdown.
Once the boys and girls had settled into their seats Mark Whinfield took the chair
and offered great insight into how the Pumas performed across the season, duly delivered the Pumas awards were given to:
Liam Walker Pumas Player of the Season
Jaxson Hind as best newcomer.
Tim quickly moved us on bringing Lions Captain Joey Cassidy to his feet. Not shy of calling a few players out, Senor Cassidy brought to the front all the senior players who had refused or failed to play for the Lions or miss a game for The Panthers across the season. Labelled ‘The S***bags’ a forfeit was given. Adam Hay leading the line.
Cass then brought the ‘house down’ as he congratulated his team on winning the Candy 2 League North and the Candy Cup. It would be fair to say there was a tad bit of noise!
Lions awards were given to
Players Player of the season Mark Sanderson
Lions Coaches award was given to Phil Morse (not in attendance)
Lions manager Tim Walker was given a nice surprise.
President Albi Durhin decided to get on the act and gave ownership of 'Percy the Lion' to Captain Seb Reece to hold onto until next season. Unfortunately at approximatly 0100hrs on Saturday 7th May 2022 Percy met his end in a spray of polyester filling. It was a grizzly end.
Next a little bit of history as Percy Park’s first ever female county player ,Stephanie Gicquel, was brought to the top table to receive a standing ovation from all attendees. Well done Steph it was a bit of a moment.
Next up the Panthers. Bill Dryden made one of his famous short speeches...........
and rightly applauded the efforts of all involved in bringing and sustaining women’s rugby at Percy Park RFC.
Awards were given to:
Anna Golightly as The Panthers Players Player of the Season
Stephanie Gicquel as the Coaches Player of the Season
Katie Shanley as the Most Improved Player
With the room brought back to some calm Percy Park Head Coach Ash Smith took the stand to some healthy abuse. Ash delivered his message for the season ahead, as we look to take Percy Park back to Level 6 Rugby.
The 'buy in' is without doubt as the Durham and Northumberland 1 Trophy was paraded for all to see.
Ross Young was heralded as Player Player of the Year
Coaches Plyer of the Season went to Leo Caulfield.
First Team ties were awarded to :
Matty Atkinson, Sam Digman, Adam Hay, Thomas Moore, Paul Spowart and Ross Young.
All the players named playing more than 18 games for the 1st XV in the season.
The mic was handed over to ‘The Pres’ and Albi spoke highly of Tim Walker before naming Tim as Clubman of the year.
Then came a really special moment as 'Mr Percy Park' Andy Dunn was given the honour of the President’s Award for years of outstanding service to his boyhood club. As Andy announced his retirement from playing, gifts and accolades flowed along with one or two little hugs and cuddles.
It was a bit emotional and we all needed to retire to the bar.
Without saying too much the evening was brilliant and the lubrication flowed long into the night before seniors and Panthers retired to Barry’s Hot Tub. I’m told the water was a bit minging! The night came to a sorry end as one of the boys was taken from Barry's couch via the kitchen sink to a taxi and bed.
Some random photos from the night
Headaches abounded with many looking really shabby at Northumberland’s end of season Volunteer Awards. Anna Golightly missing the ceremony as she remained in bed nursing a hangover. Her award for ‘Unsung Heros’ was collected by a very untidy individual.
Keith Atkinson and Ken Bell both received awards in the Connecting the Community category. Fortunately Mini Chair Nicola Smith was on hand with pints of water.
Next event is the 150th SEvens. May 21st don't miss it!!
