The Peacocks’ momentous 2017-18 season was celebrated at our Champions’ Dinner held on Thursday (24th May) at the Cooper Associates County Ground, home of Somerset County Cricket Club. The evening, hosted by BBC Somerset’s Claire Carter and club director Giuseppe Fraschini , proved a great success. An excellent three course meal was interspersed with the revealing of the club’s new logo as well as a sneak preview of Town’s up and coming new website and plans for the development of the Viridor Stadium. Head Steward and soon to be recipient of the Clubman of the Year award Rob Wenham got the guests singing with two Peacock-flavoured ditties and there was also an auction and a raffle which included prizes of a season ticket for the 2018-19 season and a cake decorated with the new club crest.
After all that there was the small matter of presenting the end of season awards! Dan Sullivan scooped the Supporters Player of the Year prize as well as the Press Writers Player of the Season, a new award introduced by the Somerset County Gazette. Ryan Brett also won two accolades on the evening, namely the Champagne Performer for the highest number of Man of the Match / Player of the Month awards and the Players’ Player which he shared with Ben Adelsbury. The Ernie Price Memorial Cup was presented to Lloyd Irish for his brilliant achievement of being ever-present for three consecutive seasons (211 appearances) while the Chairman’s Award went to Dan Howell for his fantastic work filming the games for Peacocks TV.
Thanks to all those who attended and a special thanks to those who presented awards, Claire for again being a superb host and to Somerset CCC for their great hospitality. Photos of the evening from club photographer Tim Norbury can be viewed HERE.
The full list of award winners:
100 Appearances: OLLIE CHAMBERLAIN and MATT WRIGHT (presented by Life Member Gordon Nelson)
Hat Tricks: MATT WRIGHT (2), ROSS STALEY (presented by Matt Portt from Portt & Co)
Champagne Performer: RYAN BRETT (presented by Jason Gunningham, Vice-Principal of Bridgwater & Taunton College)
Top Goalscorer: MATT WRIGHT (presented by Dave Penny, MD Invest Southwest)
Goal of the Season: SHANE WHITE away at Yate Town (presented by Stuart Berry, MD Berrys Coaches)
Players Player: BEN ADELSBURY & RYAN BRETT (presented by Adrian Giblett, Director Tony Pryce Sports)
Supporters’ Player: DAN SULLIVAN (presented by Peacocks’ supporter Willie Whitelaw)
Ernie Price Memorial Cup: LLOYD IRISH (presented by Mayor of Taunton Deane Catherine Herbert)
Supporter of the Year: CAMERON ADAMS (presented by manager Leigh Robinson)
Chairman’s Award: DAN HOWELL (presented by Chairman Kevin Sturmey)
Clubman of the Year: ROB WENHAM (presented by President Tom Harris)
Press Writers’ Player of the Season: DAN SULLIVAN (presented by Richard Browne , Somerset County Gazette)
Chairman Kevin Sturmey reflected on the evening by commenting:” In the last few years we have had some great days and nights and this year’s dinner will go down as a great night. The food and ambience at Somerset CCC was outstanding as always for the 165 guests, a record attendance. Claire Carter and our own Zeppi Fraschini were excellent hosts and for the first time ever I was able to relax and enjoy the night with only brief bits from me. This year’s dinner highlights the changing world we live in and I will never be satisfied until I feel we have reached the true level Taunton Town is capable of. Formality has a role but as I keep saying tradition has to be modernised and the world moves on and we must be seen to be leaders not followers.”
The dinner was the launchpad for the club’s new crest and the chairman continued:”Launching anything new will divide opinion but as someone who was unsure about a badge change initially, I am 100% enthused and know Zeppi was right, and as a Board we have delivered something quite unique. The vision released and the new website soon to be launched will show that we will not stand still which is amazing when you consider the club is run 95% by volunteers.
“I think we just about got the award winners right as for some awards there will always be lots of candidates but what we have is a group of people on and off the pitch who care passionately about their club and make massive sacrifices every day in the pursuit of success. Times are changing, we need to be open minded and sometimes decisive with our decision making but one thing will never be questioned, we care passionately about our club, our town and our community and if it needs football to show the way we will be there driving the club and town forward. Up The Peacocks!”