Annual Dinner and Awards 2023-2024

Ballynahinch United held their annual awards dinner at Spa Golf Club on Saturday evening.

Club Chairman Gilbert Cromie welcomed those present and thanked committee, players, supporters and sponsors for all their hard work during what had been a successful season for both United and Swifts teams. 

Swifts Managers, Gareth Bingham and David Teggarty followed. With one game still to go on Tuesday night due to postponements, they were unable to present the Swifts’ Leading Goalscorer award with four players (John Stevenson and Cameron McKissick [6], Glenn Bennett [5] and Patrick Harkin [4] in with a shout of winning the award. [Update: Glenn Bennett scored versus Saintfiedl United Swifts to make it a three-way tie for the title.]

However, they were able to present the Manager’s Player of the Year award to John McMenamin, the Swifts ever-present Captain.

John McMenamin is presented the Swifts’ Manager’s Player of the Year award by Gareth Bingham and David Teggarty.

The Swifts’ Players’ Player of the Year award was presented to runaway leader, Cameron McKissick after another solid campaign, including scoring 6 and claiming 2 Player of the Match awards.

Gareth Bingham presents Cameron McKissick with the Swifts’ Players’ Player of the Year award.

Manager Gareth King then presented the First-Team Awards, presenting Robbie Lurring with the Leading Goalscorer Award, with 15 goals.

Then Players’ Player of the Year was awarded to Robbie Lurring, pipping Greg Hall by a single vote. 

Robbie Lurring, First-Team Players’ Player of the Year, and Leading Goalscorer.

Manager’s Player of the Year was then awarded to creative midfielder, David Kelly, after an influential season, assisting 6 and scoring 4 and picking up 4 Player of the Match awards throughout the year.

David Kelly picked up Manager’s Player of the Year for the First-Team.

Gareth presented the club awards too, with Robbie Lurring picking up Club Leading Goalscorer with 16 total goals [Updated: 18 goals]. Jamie McNeill lifted Most Improved Player after an impressive return following a nasty leg break.

Robbie Lurring, Club Leading Goalscorer (18) and Firsts’ Leading Goalscorer (15).
Jamie McNeill, Most Improved.
Sam Lurring claimed Club Young Player of the Year for the second year running.

Round up

And the winners are…

Club

  • Club Leading Goalscorer: Robbie Lurring
  • Trevor McNeice Young Player of the Year: Sam Lurring
  • Most Improved: Jamie McNeill

Firsts

  • Firsts’ Players’ Player of the Year: Robbie Lurring
  • Firsts’ Manager’s Player of the Year: David Kelly 
  • Firsts’ Top Goalscorer: Robbie Lurring

Swifts

  • Barry Hayes Memorial Cup Swifts’ Players’ Player of the Year: Cameron McKissick
  • Swifts’ Manager’s Player of the Year: John McMenamin
  • Swifts’ Top Goalscorer: Cameron McKissick, Glenn Bennett, John Stevenson

Congratulations to all the winners.

Season Statistics 

A full overview of each player’s statistics are available for the year: