LAUNCESTON Football Club celebrated a hugely successful season with their annual senior presentation night at their Pennygillam home on Saturday, June 9.

The evening opened with awards for the club’s second team who enjoyed a fine campaign, more than doubling their points tally from the previous year.

Manager Andy Sleep spoke proudly of the progress made during the season by a predominantly local squad, culminating in an encouraging ninth-placed finish in the Mortgage Advice East Cornwall Premier League.

The award for second team Supporters’ Player of the Year went to popular goalkeeper Nick Oldaker who enjoyed an outstanding year, helping the team remain competitive throughout a long and sometimes difficult season.

Romanian striker Marius Pislaru scored 13 league goals in an excellent campaign to take the trophy for top goalscorer while Andy presented his own Manager’s Award to promising youngster Liam Downing.

The Players’ Player of the Year title was shared by club stalwart Dan Tilley and Alex Shopland.

Andy then handed the microphone to first team counterpart Gary Jeffery, who took the stage alongside assistant manager Mark Blake.

Gary spoke warmly of the relationship and co-operation now in place between the club’s two senior sides.

The Top Goalscorer Award was the worst kept secret of the evening. Sam Davey scored an astonishing 39 goals for the Clarets in his most prolific season yet.

The Young Player of the Year went to the versatile and hugely promising Reece Thomson, who became a regular during the course of the season.

The sought-after Players’ Player of the Year Award deservedly went to indestructible midfielder Callum Watson, enjoying his best-ever season, while central defender Josh McCabe was judged as the Most Improved Player.

Supporters’ Player of the Year, as voted by the loyal Pennygillam regulars, went to the popular and ever-reliable defender Dan Metherell.

Recognition for winning most individual ‘man of the match’ awards over the course of the season was shared between Callum Watson and Sam Davey, both of whom were named on nine such occasions.

Clubman of the Year went to popular first team physio Mike Prynn, while the final award of the evening was the prestigious Manager’s Player of the Year. Not only for remarkable goalscoring exploits, or a huge number of assists, but in recognition of the positive influence he exerted over a generally youthful squad, Gary awarded Sam Davey another well-deserved accolade.

The manager went on to praise contributions made by other key members of his squad. Goalkeeper Josh Colwill, on his return to the UK from Australia, inspirational skipper Lee Rundle, marauding full-back Charlie Hardcastle, goalscoring midfielder Ruben Kane together with versatile operators such as Chris Head, Scott Blatchford and Jack Alexander.

The final mention was for Clarets legend Liam Tilley, whose recent retirement will leave a huge gap in the side. All contributed to an enjoyable and very successful season.

Gary closed by thanking the club committee for their backing and also confirming he would be remaining as manager after a campaign, which saw them finish seventh — their highest league placing for five seasons.

In doing so, he took the opportunity to set on record his affection and huge regard for Mr Launceston, in the form of the popular and widely-respected Keith Ellacott, who began his association with the club in 1967.