Fans celebrate the 2017/18 season
A memorable Fan’s Player awards evening hosted by The Supporters Parliament was a success with the Sovereign Suite being packed to the rafters with the Town Support and Paul Hurst’s squad last evening. CEO Brian Caldwell, Chris Doig and all of the coaching staff were also in attendance and celebrated the season so far with the Town contingent.
Two stand out winners from the night, after great seasons in their first season at the club were midfielder Jon Nolan and Loanee goalkeeper Dean Henderson who both scooped up numerous awards.
Dean Henderson also won multiple awards, as the player has also had an outstanding season for the Shrews. The young keeper won: Young Player Of The Year, Away Travl Club Young Player Of The Year and the Super Blues Young Player Of The Year.
Awards were also given to Stefan Payne and Alex Rodman for Top Goal Scorer and Goal Of The Season respectively.
Club Captain, Mat Sadler was also recognised for his efforts during his two spells and four years at the club. His work with the community and local area was rewarded with the defender winning the Super Blues Club Man Of The Year.
A highlight of the night: Life long Town fan Ruth Williams was awarded the deserved Chris Smith Special recognition Award.
The award is in memory of Chris Smith who was an integral part of organising similar events at the Club but sadly passed away last May.
Ruth won this award for all of her support and hard work she has put in over the years at Shrewsbury Town. 50 years of support, rarely missing a game, providing refreshments for the youth teams as often as possible and other voluntary commitments to the club earned her the award.
Chris Doig spoke to the hundreds of people in attendance and outlined that the celebrations were for the season so far and there is still work to be done to achieve success, he said: “So far, hopefully it will get better. It’s been a great season, everyone has said we have over achieved. I don’t think anyone expected us to be where we are but we are.
“I see all the hard work all the players and the staff put in throughout the season, it’s no great surprise to me that we are where we are but we want to finish off and be successful.
“We have a staff and a group of lads that want to be successful. Being top of the league didn’t really faze us. It’s where we wanted to be. Nobody expected us to be there so we had nothing to lose.
“We’re now getting closer to the Play-Offs, I think once it comes round the excitement will build and everything that goes with it but I have got a good feeling. I think the lads will respond to it.
“I know there will be a full house here, I know it will be bouncing and that’s what the lads want and I’m sure we will get that. The lads will respond and hopefully they will give the performance that will take us to Wembley and we can go one better than last time.
Doig also spoke on the importance of the Fans influence and support, he said: “The fans are the club, without the fans there would be no club. It’s great to see the attendances rising and to see the support that we have had. People come out in their numbers to support us.
“Every game we have had a great following and a great atmosphere. The lads love it and the lads love playing in good atmospheres and I know, just as much as the staff and the players that were really grateful the fans have done this year to support us and we want to take this opportunity to say thank you to all of you.”
A full list of awards can be found below:
Young Player of the Year – Dean Henderson
Official Away Supporters Club Away Player of the Year – Jon Nolan
Official Supporters Club Top Goal Scorer – Stefan Payne
Official Supporters Club Player of the Year – Jon Nolan
Away Travel Club Young Player of the Year – Dean Henderson
Family Stand Player of the Year – Jon Nolan
Away Travel Club Player of the Year – Jon Nolan
Super Blues Young Player of the Year – Dean Henderson
Super Blues Player of the Year – Jon Nolan
Super Blues Clubman of the Year – Mat Sadler
Goal Of The Season:
Third – Ben Godfrey
Second – Shaun Whalley
Winner – Alex Rodman
Away Travel Club Away Supporter of the Year - Alex and Chris Howard
Viv and Mervyn Cox Memorial Award – Danny Davies
Chris Smith Special Recognition – Ruth Williams
Supporters' Parliament Special Recognition - Ian Whitfield