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FC WMG Football Awards

Written by Emma Phillips on . Posted in TEAM WMG.

Last month FC WMG, the WMG six-a-side football team, enjoyed their end of season awards night with a delicious all-you-can-eat Chinese buffet at Imperial Palace in Harrogate.

Formed in November 2016, FC WMG entered the Wednesday evening six-a-side league at Rosset the same month. Stepping out in their fresh white and red kits, complete with WMG badge and Slingsby Gin sponsor, the team looked the part. Made up of players from the SEO, Outreach, PR, Content and IT departments, expectations were high.

Unfortunately, it was far from an ideal start. An initial run of five or six straight defeats on those winter evenings was somewhat demoralising start. However, relief came in the cup and FC WMG’s first victory, 3-1 against Myrings. From then it was (mostly) a positive turnaround.

The wins started to come in the league and there were more in the cup, resulting in a fifth-place finish and semi-final defeat to the eventual winners in the cup. Overall, what at first looked like a doomed campaign turned out to be something the team could be proud of.

To commemorate the season, the team and some of the casual players who turn out for a Monday evening kickabout, celebrated with a special awards evening.

FC WMG:

GK: Tom Brook/Mark Halstead

DF: Graham Matthews/ Chris Shelbourn/ Marcus Hearn/ Rich Hart

MF: Tom Crewdson/ Alex Gregory/ Paddy Crier

FW: Zak Haase/ Will Best

Subs/Honourable mentions: Vlad Krastev, Andre Gwilliam, Ekow Mensah, David Russell, Will Hope, Rob Turp

The results were revealed over dinner with Ian Lloyd, Director of Digital Operations.

Best moment

After five or six losses, the first victory was voted the best moment of the season.

  • First win vs Myrings in the cup.

Best Goal

After going an entire season without hitting the back of the net, it was destiny that Rich Hart would eventually score what turned out to be goal of the season with a sublime first time finish in the cup semi-final, also the last game of the season.

  • Rich Hart

Funniest moment

From the casual Monday evening kickabout, goalkeeper Marcus Hearn, for reasons known only to himself, decided to save a shot with his midriff. Rolling around on the floor, Graham Matthews followed this up with another shot straight to the same area.

  • Graham Matthews / Marcus Hearn

Maximus Decimus Meridius Award

Translated as the ‘defender of the season’ award into English. Blocks, tackles, kicks, he helped keep the goals out at one end and made little impact at the other.

  • Graham Matthews

Manager of the season

He attended zero games, picked none of the team and provided little support. Still, he was the only manager FC WMG had so won this award by default.

  • Marcus Hearn

Sportsmanship award

A somewhat ironic victor, as it was a rather feisty encounter with an opponent that meant Rich won this award.

  • Rich Hart

The Dawn Tinsley Club Secretary Award

As well as stepping in as the team’s keeper for the season, Tom was in charge of the club’s admin dealings, something he did to the same, if not a higher, standard than his goalkeeping.

  • Tom Brook

Special mention award

The awards meal overlapped with the start of a new season, one in which Mark has stepped in as the team’s new keeper (saving a penalty in the second match and making many other excellent saves).

  • Mark Halstead

Congratulations to team FC WMG!