Friday night saw the curtain come down on the winter football season with over 150 members of our local footballing community in attendance for the 2019 Mainland Football Awards evening.

DoubleTree by Hilton was again the venue and provided the perfect backdrop to acknowledge the success of teams and individuals across all senior grades, including Masters and Sunday Women’s Leagues in a relaxed environment.

“Football is about having fun, but you’re also out there playing to win so nights like tonight are great to celebrate the achievements of all teams, not just the big few in the MPL and WPL.” says Josh McGirr, Mainland Football’s Competition Manager.

Cashmere Technical and Coastal Spirit were the big winners in the individual awards for Men’s and Women’s Premier grades respectively, highlighting the success both teams achieved over the winter.

Men’s Defender and overall Player of the Year, Tom Schwarz also made mention of how great it was to be a part of other teams success too. Schwarz, never one to single himself out for his play, felt his side ‘probably didn’t hit all goals they had set, but it was still good to have the recognition’. Adding, “I play because I enjoy it and get the opportunity to get out there and play with freedom and express myself as a player every weekend.”

That same feeling of a lack of pressure was shared by Women’s Defender and overall Player of the Year, Rebecca Lake. “I’m no longer putting the pressure on myself to perform, my main focus is to be consistent, especially as the focus turns to the Pride campaign and I feel I am playing better due to a change in focus.”

Women’s Player of the Years – Rebecca Lake“I play because I am competitive and for the friendships football has provided me. I want to keep competitive, but it is also important for myself and players like me to stay in the game and help provide the best competition for the younger players coming through, so they don’t necessarily have to go play in boys leagues like I had to.”

A total of 18 International Football representative players were also recognised by the federation for their achievements in wearing the Fern over the last 12 months, with Midfielder of the Year, Lee Maoate-Cox receiving hers for representing the Cook Islands at the recent Pacific Games.

Jodi Gauci from Nomads United received the Eileen Langridge, Administrator of the Year Award from Mainland Patron, Jack Killick.

Jodi was instrumental in the club achieving its Quality Club Mark 1 Star award, as well as achieving a New Zealand Football Club License in 2018 and in 2019 (the first club in New Zealand to be awarded a licence for the season).

Attention now turns to the National Leagues for some and a summer off to rest-and-recover for others.

A full list of team and individual winners below:

Women’s Youth Player of the Year: Marisa van Der Meer
Men’s Youth Player of the Year: Jordan Spain
Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year: Una Foyle
Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year: Corey Wilson
Women’s Defender of the Year: Rebecca Lake
Men’s Defender of the Year: Tom Schwarz
Women’s Midfielder of the Year: Lee Maoate-Cox
Men’s Midfielder of the Year: Luke Tongue
Women’s Striker of the Year: Melanie Cameron
Men’s Striker of the Year: Cameron Gordon
Women’s Golden Boot: Melanie Cameron
Men’s Golden Boot: Garbhan Coughlan
Women’s Coach of the Year: Juan Chang
Men’s Coach of the Year: Steve Bignall
Women’s Player of the Year: Rebecca Lake
Men’s Player of the Year: Tom Schwarz
Referee of the year: Nick Burnett    

TEAMS

SENIOR WOMEN

Senior Women Division 1 League Winners: Halswell United Women
Senior Women Division 2 League Winners: Burnham FC Bobcats
Senior Women Division 1 Cup Winners: Halswell United Women
Senior Women Division 2 Cup Winners: Hornby Utd AFC Women

SENIOR MEN

Mens Division 3 Minor League Winners: Western AFC Generals

Mens Division 4 Minor League Winners: Halswell United Bills

Mens Division 5 Minor League Winners: Hurunui Rangers FC Seniors

Mens Division 6 Minor League Winners: Mid Canterbury United FC

Mens Division 1 League Winners: Mid Canterbury United FC

Mens Division 2 League Winners: FC Twenty 11 Fizzers

Mens Division 3 League Winners: Methven FC Senior A’s

Mens Division 4 League Winners: Nomads United AFC Raiders

Mens Division 5 League Winners: Mid Canterbury United FC

Mens Division 6 League Winners: Cashmere Technical FC Newbies

Mens Division 1 Cup Winners: Mid Canterbury United FC

Mens Division 2 Cup Winners: FC Twenty 11 Fizzers

Mens Division 3 Cup Winners: Methven FC Senior A’s

Mens Division 4 Cup Winners: Halswell United Bills

Mens Division 5 Cup Winners: Universities AFC YJ’s

Masters 35+ Division 1   League Winners: Ferrymead Bays Baby Blues

Masters 35+ Division 2   League Winners: Papanui-Redwood AFC Pirates

Masters 35+ Division 1   Cup Winners: Ferrymead Bays Baby Blues

Masters 35+ Division 2   Cup Winners: Papanui-Redwood AFC Pirates

Masters 45+ League Winners: Cashmere Technical Pele’s Children

Masters 45+ Championship A Winners: FC Twenty11 Legends

Masters 45+ Championship B Winners: Halswell United Wanderers

Masters 45+  Championship A Cup Winners: Cashmere Technical Pele’s Children

Masters 45+  Championship B Cup Winners: FC Twenty11 Rebels

Masters 50+ League Winners: Selwyn United FC Nags

Masters 50+ Championship A Winners: Coastal Spirit Oshea’s 11

Masters 50+ Championship B Winners: Western AFC White

Masters 50+  Championship B Final: Papanui-Redwood AFC Old Boys

CL Reserves League Winners: Halswell United

MPL Reserves League Winners: Cashmere Technical

Canterbury Womens Championship League Winners: FC Twenty 11

Canterbury Championship League Winners: Christchurch United

Mainland Premier Qualifying League Winners: Ferrymead Bays

Blackwells Holden English Cup: Cashmere Technical

Hurley Shield Holders: Cashmere Technical

Blackwells Holden Reta Fitzpatrick Cup: Cashmere Technical

Hawkey Shield Holders: Coastal Spirit

McFarlane Cup Men Winners: Christchurch United

McFarlane Cup Women Winners: Coastal Spirit

Mainland Premier League Winners: Cashmere Technical

Womens Premier League Winners: Coastal Spirit

Southern Football League Winners: Nelson Suburbs

Womens Team of the Year: Coastal Spirit

Mens Team of the Year: Cashmere Technical

Article added: Monday 14 October 2019

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