FC BUXTON PRESENTATION EVENINGChild-like squabbles, hangovers, bad decisions, dodgy footwork – typical FC – but no footballs involved this time… The FC massive rolled up for their third annual end-of-season presentation night on Sunday, with a sense of anticipation in the air with a host of awards and accolades on offer. The Devonshire Arms was this year’s venue of choice. Some dressed up for the occasion, some didn’t (I’ll leave it upto you to work out who…), but the evening was another resounding success, despite an early lover’s tiff (no pun intended) which threatened to turn the event on its head. And so onto the awards… with (half) a room to ourselves (Sort it out Stu!), the speeches began, led by Chairman Stuart who presented the MANAGERS’ PLAYER OF THE YEAR – an award selected by Merse, Tiff and Stu based on a 3 place scoring system.  Centre-half and newcomer ANDREW GOULD took the honours (he could have worn a shirt… oops, I forgot I’d said I’d leave it upto you..!). Corbett and Gould posed for a photo, whilst Mossy thought of what might have been had he been nice to a couple more people each season… As Merse stepped up to present the FORUM PLAYER OF THE YEAR, a strange smell filled the air. Had Merse’s nerves got the better of him? Nah – it has since been revealed (with the help of photographical evidence of Tiff’s armpits) that the smell originated from elsewhere… After a short and sweet introduction by the best left-back this side of Wilmslow, BEN BOLTON was announced as the winner. His acceptance speech was shorter and sweeter… it’s just the way he rolls. After all, it didn’t matter what he said, he’s already a WAGs favourite… And then it was time for the big one. The PLAYERS’ PLAYER OF THE YEAR is considered ‘the’ award to win. It’s the one voted for by your team-mates, the ones that see first hand the difference you make to the team. ‘It’s about the whole package’ as Tiff declared as he built up the tension with some pre-presenting patter. It certainly must have been about the whole package in this instance, as on performances alone this boy would have been nowhere… So without further ado, the FC BUXTON PLAYERS’ PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2009/10 was STUART CORBETT. The audience fell silent. Had the Chairman really won? He would spend the rest of the night reminding us that ‘yes, he had’. Was it a fix? Earlier events had suggested that if it was a fix, Tiff wouldn’t have given it to him!! In all fairness, a worthy winner. With the main awards allocated, it was time for Merson to take to the stage once more for some ‘special’ awards, representing a selection of highlights and key features of the season just passed. Without doubt, the most popular award went to JIMMY WRIGHT for his COMEDY FALL OF THE YEAR (see Sharrow Vale Home match report). A photo showing the immediate aftermath of the incident signed by the members of his favourite group JLS was his to take home. Other awards were given for SPORTS WRITER’S PLAYER OF THE YEAR, GOAL OF THE SEASON, COMEDIAN OF THE YEAR (see below for full list), whilst CHRIS HILL took home the UNDER THE THUMB AWARD. He plays when his missus lets him – end of. With awards handed out and everybody happy (with the exception of Big MARTIN TURNER, who considered a 3 game season worthy of an award..!) it was time for the drinking and eating to commence. Considerably more drinking than eating took place once the Chilli-Con-Carne kindly put on by Kerry at the Devvy began to burn the pallette. Very nice though.  Once the bar at the Devvy had been drunk dry, the squad commenced on their annual bar-crawl, beginning at Weatherspoons, where the team nearly got their hands on the FA Cup, before the WAGs arrived and it was time to move on..! The Railway, Miltons, Old Clubhouse and Kings Head all provided ideal surroundings for a bit of friendly banter and some more serious abuse (with JLS and LUKE’S ongoing on-off relationship the main target..). Even BEN BOLTON spoke, if only to declare his love for an unsuspecting passer-by as he lurked beside the Ladies’ Toilets. As BAMMER led the half-pint drinking, seemingly so that he could be home in time for his pipe and slippers at 10pm, it was time to move on to the hub of activity that was The London Road. MERSON looked on in confusion at the sight of his whole family being there. After another swift half it was time to go again, with The Swan the next destination. By this time the numbers were beginning to dwindle, and BETTSY was beginning to show the effects of his all-day drinking session – with his normal highly intellectual conversation turning into a selection of random words and noises. CORBETT was also waning, attempting a dance on his chair that nearly ended in tears, whilst GOULD had been reduced to glasses of orange squash by this point. As MOSSY declared one final push for the finishing line, HOLLINS went home ready for his 5am start the next day, and the survivors moved on to The Queens, having just about got over their last-gasp Invitation Cup Semi-Final defeat to them at the end of last season. Again they were re-united with the WAG brigade, and all responsibility for CORBETT was handed over to his better-half. BETTS propped the wall up in the corner, before disappearing into the night. As last orders were called and the lights came on, the lights went out on another interesting season for FC Buxton. Same again next year anyone? Full List of Awards Players’ Player of the Year – Stuart Corbett Managers’ Player of the Year – Andrew Gould Forum Player of the Year – Ben Bolton Sports Writer’s Player of the Year – Dan Moss Goal of the Season – Stuart Corbett (Port Vale Away) Comedian of the Year – Adam Betts Grafter of the Year – Kyle Hollins Under The Thumb Award – Chris Hill Can’t Shoot Will Shoot Award – Andrew Gould Gav Johnson Quiet Man of the Year – Ben Bolton Lines-man of the Year – Stephen Hallman Youth Academy Graduate of the Year – Liam Norton Comedy Fall of the Year – James Wright Butter Fingers Award (sponsored by Flora) – Mark Redburn SEASON REVIEW P 20 W 8 D 3 L 9 F 56 A 52 Top Goalscorer – John Crimmins (8) Most appearances – Mark Redburn (20) Clean sheets – 2 Most unbeaten – 2 Most without win – 6 PLAYER REPORT CARDS TO FOLLOW ON THE FORUM.. |
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