2002/03 Youth Team Awards

Ards Colts and Under 16s held a joint awards night last Friday evening, where they looked back on the first season of the new Ards youth set-up and awarded prizes to the season's top performers.

Special guest at the awards dinner was first team manager Frankie Parks, who presented the awards and afterwards spoke to the players, telling them that he would be looking for them in the next few years to begin pressing for a place in his squad.

Under sixteen manager Craig Brotherston gave a detailed summary of his side's inaugural season, a year which saw them reach two cup finals and make a respectable league finish. Coach David Lemon spoke of the hope he had for the side: "I hope this 16s squad stays together and moves up to U18s because they have grown together as a team all season and have a lot of potential to progress with Ards FC."

Four awards were handed over by firsts' manager Frankie Parks, the first of which went to Players' Player of the Year Aaron Johnston. His manager had this to say of him. "Aaron had a great season, he's a player who has a lot of close control, and knows were the net is as he also finished second highest goal scorer. He has a great attitude towards training and has the potential to go along way in the game. To get this award from your team mates is very satisfying for any player."

The next award went to U16 Top Goalscorer Robert Knox, who scored 21 goals during the season, some at very crucial and important times. Robert showed he was willing to learn and progress during the season and he always looked to hold the ball up and bring other players into the game.

Most Improved Player of the year was David Brotherston, the youngest member of the squad. David was a player always willing to learn and one who got stronger as the season progressed. When things weren't going the right way, David was a player who could make things happen and was not a player who took defeat easily.

The main award, that of Player of the Year was a close one to call but in the end went to Alan Strain. "Alan deserves this award for his all-round ability, attitude and willingness to listen and learn," said manager Craig Brotherston. "He has a great attitude towards training, and is a great header of the ball; he broke up numerous opposition attacks and was an anchor in midfield - someone you could depend on."

The Colts managers Damien Gallagher and Robert Blair presided over the review of their season, one which did not see them enjoy much success by the accepted meaning of the word. However this too was a squad which had been together for just one year and one which had been taking part in the very competitive IFL Youth League.

Their Player's Player of the Year award went to Matthew Adair, while the undisputed Top Goalscorer was Lewis Jordan. Most Improved Player of the season was named as Matthew McDowell.

The managers named their Player of the Year for 2002/03 as David Morrow and he collected his trophy from Frankie Parks. The clear message coming from all the coaches in attendance, including Frankie, was that these players could make a name for themselves at Ards Football Club. The club were aware of interest being show in some players by the so-called bigger clubs, but warned that competition was fierce at these clubs and too often the risk was there of becoming "just a number".

Parks told the members of both squads that they had a real chance to impress at Ards and that he would not ignore them if they were good enough.