RUGBY Town hosted their annual end-of-season awards evening after successfully securing their Northern Premier League Midlands status last season.
The player trophies were spread evenly across the pitch with defender Dan Summerfield, midfielder Ryan Sahota and striker David Kolodynski all scooping awards on the night, ably compered by club director Mike Yeats.
Summerfield’s welcome return from a foot injury incurred the previous season saw him make more appearances than any other player last term and his consistency in a full-back berth subsequently led to him topping the supporters’ player of the year vote – with Kolodynski in second place and Sahota and Theo Rowe tying for third.
Sahota’s impressive first full year of senior football caught the eye of manager Carl Adams and he received the manager’s player of the year award, with the 19-year-old also earning the media star man accolade, based on the number of man of the match nominations made across the campaign.
The teenager’s tally of five star man awards saw him collect one more than runner-up Kolodynski, with Chris Clements, Josh Thomas and Jordan Wilson all on three nominations over the course of the season.
And the club’s all-time leading scorer Kolodynski claimed the golden boot for most goals in the season after scoring 10 times to take his overall Valley total to 281 strikes.
Kolodynski’s 11th double-figure return for Rugby saw him beat Wilson by one goal, after the two forwards had previously shared the 2022/23 trophy.
And two members of Adams’ backroom team also took home awards for their efforts. Physio Paris Kinlan received the Tony Mann Memorial Shield for commitment after completing six years in the vital role while kit man Mark Cross took the clubman of the year trophy for the excellent levels of support he provides on matchday and beyond.
The club also recognised two of Town’s youth fanbase with Jacob Macdonald and Beau Cross sharing the young supporter of the year award for their loyal attendance record this season both home and away.
Yeats acknowledged the contributions of all club supporters, officials and volunteers throughout what had been a challenging year for Town and he stressed that these had played a major part in the pleasing final outcome to the campaign.
And Yeats and club president Pete Kilvert presented the club’s long-serving secretary Doug Wilkins with a special commemorative award and showed their appreciation to Doug’s wife Veronica for her contributions in boardroom hospitality.
