Jenny lifts Player of the Year 2010

Jenny Boyd was voted by her teammates as their top player in 2010

Jenny in midfield action for the Seasiders

Bangor Ladies, the ladies section of Bangor Football Club, brought the curtain down on their 2010 season on Friday evening (8th) when the club celebrated at Carnalea Golf Club with their Annual Awards Dinner where Jenny Boyd was selected by her teammates as the Seasiders’ Player of the Year 2010.


Jenny represents everything positive about Bangor Ladies Football Club, and has glided smoothly through the ranks at the Seasiders, since arriving to play competitive football for the first time in 2007.


he young utility player was quick to be noticed, taking the title of Young Player of the Year, the following season, in 2008.


A fine example of a modern footballer, Jenny then went on to show her steadily growing potential, progressing to Most Improved Player in 2009 to rightfully lift this, the most prestigious award at the club this season - Player of the Year 2010. An achievement, which rewards both her hard work on the training ground, and personal development as part of the 2009 league championship winning team.


A player also recognized by manager Andy Craig as one of the most versatile at the North Down club, Jenny has been used to good effect, with roles at both left and right back at times, a short tint up top which produced her first senior goal in the League Cup against Armagh; she is now recognized as a natural central midfielder.


Although aware of her defensive holding responsibilities, she has also displayed the enthusiasm and pace to burst forward and give the team that extra dimension when it is required. Paired this season, with either young Lauren McAteer, a potential international player, or Lynsey Torville, the tenacious Miss Boyd is a very worthy winner of the title.

Double top – Natasha Lee, takes her second successive title as top goalscorer at Clandeboye Park

The evening’s formalities kicked off, with the recognition of Bangor Ladies top goalscorer for the second season in a row, won by the club’s Natasha Lee. This young teenager has been a revelation since switching from Bangor’s Newtownards rivals at the start of 2009. This transfer had an immediate effect and the young striker exploded in the Second Division of the NIWFA, helping to bring the title to Clandeboye Park.


Rattling an incredible 34 strikes, including 5 hat-tricks, Natasha led the whole division, and was second in the whole country in her first season with the Seasiders. Although not as prolific this campaign, manager Craig believes she is currently one of the best strikers in Northern Ireland and it is only a matter of time before she is elevated to international status.

Bangor’s Tina Sharpe who was awarded Manager’s Player of the Year.

Having picked up her trophy, Natasha then presented the Manager’s Player of the Year this season that went to Tina Sharpe. Tina has shown some remarkable courage and determination after coming back from an injury in 2008, which meant knee surgery inclusive of six months rebuilding her strength and confidence.


Having completed this painful journey, in her comeback season 09, the striker unfortunately, was to suffer again pre-season, as, unbelievably her other knee went in what can only be described as a cruel twist of fate, which ruled her out for the whole of last season’s record breaking year.


While many a player’s confidence may well have been destroyed, the Bangor Ladies player proved she has the character, courage and desire to return to playing for the club again in April 2010. Although not as a striker, she was to make a succession of appearances as the club’s goalkeeper.


With this in mind both Craig and assistant manager Leanne McGarry had no hesitation in making her their first choice – marking her determination to come back from such adversity to make a full return in 2010.


Next up was Most Improved Player of 2010 - with midfielder Lynsey Turville scooping up award in only her first year of competitive football. A regular at training and it showed with a general all round understanding of the game and of her individual responsibilities. Lynsey has worked extremely hard, and was an example to some more of seasoned and experienced players at the club, and fully deserved to lift the title in 2010.


The final highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Sammy Mellon and Sons sponsored trophy for the player selected by the sponsors as having made the biggest overall contribution throughout the summer football campaign.

Paula Dougherty picked up the clubs sponsors award as M.V.P.

The trophy which was put forward last season by Ivan Mellon (of Sammy Mellon’s and Sons), who is a regular at Clandeboye Road, when his busy work schedule affords him an evening off. Ivan this season chose right-back Paula Dougherty as the Seasiders’ Most Valuable Player.


Paula, who has been with the club since it’s inception in 2006 is considered the backbone of a strong defensive unit, she not only puts in a 101% effort in on the pitch, but also off the field she does a lot of important work organizing pitches, communicating with the NIWFA and as club treasurer.


This season was no exception as Paula put in a consistent number of impressive performances for the Seasiders, and has shown every year the ability to progress as a better player and thoroughly deserved this trophy, as recognition of her continuing all-round improvement.


The formalities ended as the 2009 North Down Sports Advisory’s Team of the Year reflected on what was a difficult summer in 2010, where injuries plagued the achievements of the team on the field. Manager Craig noting that at one stage out of 24 players registered, more were actually unavailable through injury, than were able to play, and obviously this had it’s effect on the results and league status, though it was not always reflected in the performances of some of his charges on the field.


This was echoed by the management team’s appreciation voiced to all the players who represented the club. All played with pride and on more than one occasion, as part of a team which fielded less than a full side – once traveling away with 10 players and coming a home with a 2-1 win.


However, its a time for the winter break and a chance for everyone to take stock of the club who will now move into a transitional spell, giving the committee, which will be elected at the up and coming AGM, the opportunity to rebuild and reshape the ladies section, with the continued support of Bangor Chairman Trevor Best and the board at Clandeboye Park.


The final toast of what proved a memorable evening was to pay tribute to, and thank the club’s official sponsors Sammy Mellon and Son, Bingham Street, who have consistently backed the development of local sport and in particular ladies football within the borough of North Down, and everyone at Bangor Ladies Football Club, recognised this massive contribution.


The Annual General Meeting will take place at Bangor Football Club on Monday, 15th November, and all players are requested to make every effort to attend as it marks the end of the Andy Craig’s management at the Seasiders and hopefully the beginning of a new successful era for the ladies section at Clandeboye Park.

Annual General Meeting November 15th