Hethersett Athletic

Hethersett Athletic held their most successful presentation evening to date at Carrow Road on Friday, May 9th, when over 400 players, supporters, family and friends watched as 12 teams presented their trophies for the season.

It was a special night for Under-10s player Nathan Cooper who was awarded the Lee Thompson Memorial Trophy for playing during the season despite serious health problems. To read about this award follow the link by clicking here.

Nathan is pictured on the right receiving his award from Lee's brother Ben.

The club also installed their first two honorary life members to mark outstanding contributions to the club.

Five players received trophies to mark 200 league and cup appearances for the club, eight to mark 100 appearances and no fewer than 23 to mark 50 appearances. There was also a special award for Under-14s player Scott Allen who has completed 150 goals for the club.

Club chairman Peter Steward looked back on a season which saw the club become one of only two in Norfolk and 100 in the country to be awarded the National FA's coveted Community Charter Standard. This follows closely on the heels of the award of a Charter Standard award.

The club had also run a record number of 12 teams and now prides itself on providing competitive soccer for both sexes and all ages from eight to adult.

Highlights of the season had included the Under-14s winning the B section of the Anglian Youth Combination and the Under-15s reaching their league cup final.

It has already been decided to again run three adult men's teams next season, with the possibility of even more youth teams being started. Ultimately the club was looking to start an adult Saturday side and to look into the possibility of having its own ground in the village.

The awards were presented by Norfolk Football Association's Deputy Chairman Stuart Dracup.

He presented honorary life membership to Ian Harrison and Mel Perkins. Ian was responsible for managing the highly successful men's first team which won three Norwich Sunday League Divisional titles in a row. Ian has been involved in football in Hethersett for many years and his award reflected his outstanding contribution to the game in the village.

Mel received his award for outstanding service to Hethersett Athletic as the club founder and present secretary and treasurer.

Stuart Dracup presented appearance awards to the following: 200 games - Steven Beck, Danny Holman, Paul Martin, Robert Mitchell and Martin Mowser. 100 games - Lewis Allen, Scott Allen, Nick Appleton, Charlotte Boreham, Matthew Bradfield, Sarah Milne, Adrian Moore and Jack Tarrant. 50 games - David Alexander, Oliver Armstrong, Paul Baines, Lenny Barnard, Nick Bedson, Liam Buffin, Aaron Cobb, Nathan Cooper, Tim Downes, Andy Dyke, Tom Gee, Sam Giles, Louisa Gittens, Emily Holt, Christian Lacey, Scott leverington, Anna Mellows, Karl Mills, Ian Mutimer, Adam Paice, Tom Rainsford, Lawrence Underwood, Thomas Vosper.

Stuart Dracup told the evening that Hethersett Athletic was a shining example of what could be achieved in football through hard work and enthusiasm.

There was also an award for the club's first international player - Nicola Hobbs - who recently represented England Ladies Under-17s against Northern Ireland.

Nicola is photographed opposite receiving a special award from Norfolk County Football Association Deputy Chairman Stuart Dracup.

Click here to read about the new honorary life members and view photographs of their presentations..