Above: a gallery of winners

A successful season at Heswall FC was celebrated on Saturday at Gayton Park when the club's end of season presentation was held.

Following the Covid interruptions this year, it was never certain that the season would be played to a conclusion - and we offer great thanks to the West Cheshire League for finding a solution and enabling our lads to challenge for the right to return to the first division.

The lads representing our First Team responded magnificently, winning 13 of 15 league games and finishing second in the league and thus achieving our goal of first division football next season - a remarkable achievement from Manager Andy Cass and his team. They were terrific throughout, showing their incredible desire and will to win.

We were lucky enough to have the support of fantastic sponsors who generously supported each and every award. This was an incredible gesture and one we are eternally grateful for, the icing on the cake of support by our generous sponsors whose backing is so important for a grassroots club like Heswall. We offer sincere thanks and eternal gratitude to all of them.

The First Team award winners began with Most Assists in the shape of Matty Morris. The winger has had a great opening season at the club, he's got unbelievable feet, an outrageous touch and we still don't know if he's left or right footed. His award was kindly sponsored by Desmond L Bannon & Sons Family Funeral Directors.

The Top Scorer for the First Team was Centre Forward Joe Ford. After four goals in ten games pre lockdown, regular readers will know that once we came back, Joe was in red hot form with a remarkable 16 goals in just 15 games. This award was kindly sponsored by Wainwrights Accountants.

The Managers' Player of the Year, the award chosen by the gaffer, Andy Cass, was deservedly won by Club Captain Christian Lewis. Christian's commitment has always been top class, but his performances have been nothing short of superb, a real club man and a huge asset to the First Team squad. The sponsor for this award was Hunters Estate Agents in Heswall. Thank you.

The final award handed out to the First Team squad was the coveted Players' Player of the Year Award. This is given by the squad to the player they feel collectively has stood out above all others, and truly their choice has had a great season. We may not yet understand much of what he says but our own flying Scotsman Graham Mort was the deserving winner following a season during which he was ever present and tremendous. The Underground Training Station were the kind sponsors of this award.

The Reserve Team awards started with the Top Goalscorer Award, which was kindly sponsored by Rustic & Refined by Gaynor. The top marksmen and deserving winner was Dan O'Halloran. He takes some stick from his team mates at times, but he works hard every game and scores goals when it matters - a real gentleman and a credit to the club.

The two remaining awards for the Reserves, Manager's Player of the Year Sponsored by Soap & Steam, and the Players Player of the Year Award, sponsored by Farndon's Electrical Ltd, were both won by the same player. It seems obvious to say that this lad has had a great season to be the deserving winner of two awards, but Josh Brooks has been immense in goal this season. Not only has he kept a raft of clean sheets, saved penalties and made some incredible saves, he's also been a potent attacking weapon weighing in with five assists this season, an incredible stat for a goalkeeper.

Our Youth Team, in their final season before stepping into adult football, handed out a number of awards on the night too. The Most Improved Player Award sponsored by Heswall Nub News, a huge supporter of Heswall FC this season by giving us the opportunity to raise our profile in the local community and keep you updated on our club's progress, was handed over to Ben Davies. Ben has not only improved as a player but also changed role this season, playing more as a striker

and doing a fine job, hitting the net four times in eight games, a very respectable total, showing his great versatility and eye for a goal.

The Award for the Most Man of the Match Awards went to Dylan McColgan. The Man of the Match is chosen on each matchday by the opposition manager, so Dylan must be doing something right and playing consistently well to impress over 30% of the opposing teams. He's a very good young player with a bright future at Heswall FC. Revolution 4 in Heswall were the kind sponsors of this award and have been a great source of support to our club this year which is very much appreciated.

Clayton Civil Engineering were the sponsors of the next gong, the Top Scorer Award, which was won by hotshot Matty Walsh who hit seven in nine games. Matty has consistently shown his desire to score goals and his work rate reveals his willingness to put the effort in for his team. Matty is another player making the step into adult football and there are high hopes for him.

Youth Team Manager's Player of the Year was the next award, sponsored by Mini Monsters, and the winner was goalkeeper Finn Collins who has had another strong season with a string of fine performances in the Youth Division. This has led to Finn stepping up on a number of occasions to both the First Team and Reserves when required, and he has always shown what a fine goalkeeper he is, sure to reach his potential in coming years and become a top class keeper.

The final award sponsored by Coal Electrical was the Youth Team Players' Player of the Year Award. The winner was Alex Parry, a very good young player who is sure to develop into a fine asset to Heswall FC as he matures and experiences adult football. Alex has had a tremendous season and is a highly deserving winner - it's always tough to impress your own teammates so well done Pazza.

Thanks again to all our award sponsors, and congratulations to all our award winners and also to all our players who have all worked hard this season and performed to a great standard.

We are eternally grateful for the sacrifices made and the commitment shown. We would also like to offer our thanks as a club to the Heswall Wags. We appreciate that we take up lots of your partners' and husbands' time and for this we are hugely grateful.

Coming up we have the Awards Evening for our Junior Sides, our Under 14 teams on both a Saturday in the Eastham JFL and a Sunday in the Wallasey JFL. Managers Lee Hawkins and Andy Bannon have their work cut out choosing winners from two successful squads, so look out the award

winners after the event on July 17th.