SLIDESHOW: Tributes paid to heroes of the season
Evening News Norwich Sunday League teams enjoyed their crowning glory after one of the most difficult seasons on record. Honours were handed out to mark the final acts of a campaign decimated by drought, snow and ice.
Evening News Norwich Sunday League teams enjoyed their crowning glory after one of the most difficult seasons on record. Honours were handed out to mark the final acts of a campaign decimated by drought, snow and ice.
Evening News sports writer Milton Lindsay, a guest at the dinner at the Holiday Inn Hotel, paid tribute to the league for a gargantuan behind-the-scenes effort to bring the season to a satisfactory conclusion.
Four divisions had to be decided on points average, the first time the method had been employed since the long hot summer of 1976, but the placings would probably have been the same even if all the games had been completed.
Some teams had up to 12 games postponed because of the crisis, which had placed a question mark over the staging of the The Pink Un League Cup.
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“But you stuck to your guns, refused to be beaten, the weather Gods finally relented and you were rewarded with a cracking final won by the Grove,” said Milton.
He congratulated secretary Ben Casey for an outstanding first season since following Alan Williams and told fixture secretary Bernie Hardiman, who at one point was grappling with 400 unplayed fixtures. “You played a blinder. Next season will be your 40th in the job and you deserve an easier ride.”
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t Award winners
Premier Division (John Snelling Cup, presented by Ray Kiddell, league president) Quebec Rovers; runners-up Wymondham Rangers.
Division 1a - (Alan Williams Cup, Alan Williams, league assistant secretary) Norwich Busmen; runners-up Norman Wanderers.
Division 1b (Parkside Cup, Paul Ballard league chairman) Norman Wanderers Reserves; runners-up Earlham United.
Division 2a (Woolpack Cup, Shaun Turner, chief executive, Norfolk County FA) - Aslacton and Great Moulton; runners-up Reepham Town
Division 2b - (Spruce Howlettt Cup, Nick Everett league vice-chairman) Old Catton; runners-up St Faiths.
Division 3a (Bernie Hardiman Cup, Bernie Hardiman league fixture secretary) Upton; runners-up Stoke.
Division 3b (Mascot Cup, Will Jeffery, league registration secretary) - Bayer FC; runners-up Taverham Utd.
Division 4a (Ray Kiddell Cup) Wellington Pink Uns; runners-up Sprowston Royal Oak.
Division 4b (Sunday Cup, Steve Brown, league committee) - winners Heartsease; runners-up Freethorpe.
Pink Un League Cup (Milton Lindsay, Evening News) - The Grove beat Acle Rangers 2-1 (aet). Match officials awards: Phil Edwards, Brian Jefferies, Brian Ablett, Paul Burnham.
Referees top marks award (presented by Nigel Evans, referees appointments secretary) - Mark Smyth, Mark Ames, Phil Edwards, John Coates, Michael Holmes, Larry Choate.
Secretary of the year (Ben Casey, league secretary) - Brian Folkard (Stoke FC), pictured left.
