Thame United’s Ben Connelly voted Players’ Player of the Year

THE accolade of Players Player of the Year for the First Team went to Ben Connelly, who has been almost ever present in Thame United’s first team over the last four seasons, was announced at the club’s end of season presentation evening on Saturday (25/04/09).

With over 40 players and Committee Members attending, it was an enjoyable evening as Chairman and First Team, Reserve Team and Youth Team Managers reviewed the season both on and off the field.

Managers Player of the Year went to Club captain, Lee Thompson, who over the last few months of the season had been an inspirational influence in turning around the fortunes of the Club, but suffered a broken leg in the penultimate game of the season. A joint award of Most Improved Player went to Steve Newell and Lawrence El-Kassir, who both joined the Club at the start of the season and during the course of the year have become regular first team players. The coveted Supporters Player of the Year was presented to Sam Cowan, a versatile defender/midfielder who has come up through the ranks of Thame Boys, and who across the course of the season has put in a number of match winning performances.

For the Reserve Section, Matt Gibbs won both the Players Player and Managers Player of the Year Award, whilst Ryan Chapman was awarded Most Improved Player. Manager Marcus Walker, who stands down at the end of the season, was thanked for his hard work in running the reserve team over the course of the last three years.

For the Youth team, manager Steve Meredith reviewed the season, his last before stepping aside for Gary Leach to take up the reins. The Most Improved Player award went to Pat Blore, with Craig Connell picking up the Players Player and Managers Player of the year award.

There will only be a small amount of time for the players to rest, with pre-season training commencing in mid-May!