oneBoro :: The Essesential Middlesbrough
The Prince's Trust North East Football Awards 2008
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The biggest names in North East football gathered at The Prince's Trust North East football Awards on the 15th of September 2008 to look back on the highs and lows of last season and kick off the new season in style.
Every year, The Prince’s Trust brings together the region’s Barclays Premier League and Coca-Cola League clubs to celebrate the beautiful game at its very best whilst raising vital funds to change the lives of disadvantaged young people.
The glittering awards ceremony which is now in its 7th year was held at the Hilton Newcastle Gateshead. Century radio’s Three Legends broadcast their show live from the foyer where over 300 guests including big name players and key members from each of the clubs enjoyed a champagne reception courtesy of Lovely Bubbly.
The awards kicked off after dinner, hosted by former Soccer Night presenter Roger Tames and co-hosted by BBC North East, ITV Tyne Tees and Sky Sports News presenters Jeff Brown, Simon O’Rourke and David Craig.
The winners of The Prince’s Trust North East Football Awards 2008:
North East Player of the Year – Stewart Downing, Middlesbrough FC
Stewart Downing can now justifiably claim to be the best footballer the region has produced in the past decade. Still just 24, he was an ever-present in the Boro side throughout the Premier League campaign and added the precious commodity of goals to his dangerous wingplay - 10 in all competitions. His ability to create from the left hand side made him a precious commodity for the England squad and a regular target for Boro's rivals. But the Boro born star has now signed a new contract and his commitment to his home town club was a major boost to Gareth Southgate's future plans.
Coca-Cola League Player of the Year – Steve Foster, Darlington FC
Quakers fans quickly understood why manager Dave Penney was so keen to be reunited with his old skipper Steve Foster. The commanding central defender was signed from Scunthorpe but had been Penney's right hand man during two successful promotion campaign at Doncaster. Foster soon proved a natural leader who held the team together during some fluctuating fortunes that took Darlington within arm's length of progress to League One. Hopefully his experience of what it takes to see through a promotion campaign will be rewarded at the Arena this season.
Young Player of the Year Sponsored by VIP Needs Ltd – David Wheater, Middlesbrough FC
The giant 6' 5" central defender has been one of the big success stories of last season, progressing in less than 12 months from a loan spell at Darlington to Fabio Capello's England squad. Once the Redcar-born stopper grabbed a place in the Middlesbrough first team he was not going to be shifted and started 34 games in the Premier League. Still only 21, he displayed a natural maturity, an eye for a goal as well as a passion for the club that made him a fans' favourite. David looks another triumph for boro's highly impressive academy.
Non-League Award sponsored by Sevcon – Gateshead FC
There's a new sense of optimism at Gateshead with the club making massive strides on and off the pitch thanks to a productive partnership between chairman and manager. Former Sunderland director Graham Wood is in charge of the boardroom at the club he supported as a boy from the terraces of Redheugh Park and he has major plans to find Gateshead its own home. Meanwhile former Newcastle midfielder Ian Bogie has guided the team into the Blue Square (Conference) North after winning the Unibond Premier league Play Off Final. The Tynesiders have eyes on a historic return to the Football league and are aiming high again.
Goal of the Season judged by Century Radio’s Three Legends
The North east football season produced a flurry of spectacular goals which made judging this year's Goal of The Season a testing experience for the jury of Century Radio's Three Legends Micky Horswill, Malcolm Macdonald and Bernie Slaven. In third place they chose an absolute piledriver from Sunderland 's Daryl Murphy which had the Stadium of Light on its feet in the game against Wigan. The runner-up won't make great viewing for Middlesbrough fans as it was a magnificent strike from Newcastle's attacking full back Charles N'Zogbia which opened the scoring in the Tyne Tees derby at the Riverside last August. The competition winner though came from outside the top flight. Darlington's Jason Kennedy produced a dazzling moment of control followed by a stunning strike in the pressure cooker atmosphere of a promotion play-off semi-final. The North east's Goal of the Season was the opener against Rochdale at the arena and would have been worthy of taking Kennedy and his team to Wembley. Sadly Darlington just missed out on the final in a penalty shoot-out. Hopefully this prize will give Jason Kennedy some late satisfaction.
1st – Jason Kennedy – Darlington FC v Rochdale
2nd – Charles NZogbia – Middlesbrough v Newcastle Utd FC
3rd – Daryl Murphy – Sunderland AFC v Wigan.
Save of the Season sponsored by Barclays Bank PLC
1st – Craig Gordon – Sunderland AFC v West Ham
Craig did fantastically well to get across goal to stop a ball that was coming in at a difficult height and trajectory. His right handed save was definitely a bit special.
2nd – Mark Schwarzer – Middlesbrough FC v Wigan
Mark made good ground across to the right of his goal produce a fine save of what wasn’t the paciest shot but was well placed and accurate
3rd – Steve Harper – Newcastle Utd FC v Aston Villa
Steve produced a wonderfully instinctive save especially considering the well struck shot which came through a crowd and took a deflection.
The Prince’s Trust Recognition Award – Sir Bobby Robson
The Prince's Trust presents its own award to recognise an outstanding contribution to north east football and it would be almost impossible to think of anyone who has given more to the game or the region than Sir Bobby Robson. The former Newcastle United and England manager has been one of football's greatest ambassadors, a son of Langley Park, Co Durham who rose to become a major figure on the world stage. An England international as a player, Sir Bobby has won silverware in England, Holland, Portugal and Spain as well as taking our national team to within penalty kicks of a World Cup Final. Even in his retirement from the professional game he is still achieving. The Foundation set up in his name quickly raised the half a million pounds needed to equip a special cancer trials unit at Newcastle's Freeman Hospital.
On winning his award Sir Bobby said: “I am delighted to be the recipient of such a prestigious award. Previous winners include Niall Quinn, Mick McCarthy, Alan Shearer and others, that puts me in great company and makes it an honour and privilege for me to accept this award.”
Guests were later treated to a spectacular performance by 16-year-old solo singer from Consett Karen Harding, who has been tipped for the top by music industry scouts and guest-speaker Chris Cook, the Olympic swimmer and British record-holder who has just returned from Beijing.
Funds raised at the event will help The Prince’s Trust to support 14-30 year olds who have struggled at school, have been in care, are long-term unemployed or have been in trouble with the law.
Last year the youth charity provided practical or financial support to almost 4,000 disadvantaged young people living in the North East, developing key workplace skills such as confidence and motivation. More than three in four young people The Trust helped from this region moved into work, education or training.
David Beavis , North East Regional Director for The Prince’s Trust said:
“This awards ceremony is a special occasion every year, not least because it raises valuable funds for our work with disadvantaged young people but also because it centres around the North East’s number one passion, football.”
The Prince’s Trust works closely with all of the regions football clubs as part of its Football Initiative. The Prince’s Trust Football Initiative was launched in 1997 and is supported by The Premier League, The Football Foundation and The Professional Footballers' Association
Further information about The Prince’s Trust is available at www.princes-trust.org.uk or on 0800 842 842
