THE final act of the flybe.
Combination season took place on Saturday evening with old campaigner Andy Barker of Magpies lifting the Footballer of the Year trophy.
The new-look awards evening at the Living Legend was a great success, although the total amount of prize money taken home by Division II’s St John - approaching £4,000 - underlined just how much long-term sponsors flybe could be missed next term.
Around £20,000 was handed over to the Combination’s clubs by flybe, represented on the night by Ian Taylor, as reward for sporting behaviour, three-goal victories, cup progress and final league position.
Combination president Tim Darwin is still pursuing a suitable sponsor for what remains an highly-attractive product, but as he said ‘times are tough in this difficult financial climate’, so, whatever comes of the restructuring discussions at the agm next month, the coming season will be one when clubs have to tighten their belts.
The end of flybe’s term of sponsorship - it started when the late Jack Walker, a great football patron at local and national level, instructed flybe, then as Jersey European, to replace Rothmans as Combination sponsors in 1991 - was not the saddest point of the season, however.
That, as pointed out by Darwin, was the passing of Graeme Mourant, a football man of great accomplishment, on and off the pitch.
So it was apt indeed, that it was his widow Mary who was asked to present the evening’s top award to Magpies’ veteran Barker.
Barker, 40 in August, has had a magnificent career in Jersey, giving sterling service to, amongst others, St Ouen, St Paul’s, Magpies and Jersey, and last won this award in 1989.
An experimental voting system, passed by Combination delegates last year, meant the award was based on opposition votes after every match - and the midfielder’s consistent performances in helping Magpies to Division I respectability earned him the top prize ahead of Portuguese Club’s José-Manuel Vieira (Chalana) and Rozel’s Marco Vieira.
Scott Quarell’s goal-scoring exploits for promoted St Ouen earned him enough votes to fight off the challenge of Dave Fitton (late of St Lawrence) and Matt Scriven of St Clement for the Division II player of the year award.
Muratti debut girl Jess Vieira made it a really rewarding night for St John by taking the ladies’ award, ahead of Kerrie Sauvage and Jo Jones of First Tower and Rozel Rovers respectively.
A nice farewell from Island football as she leaves for university.
Ian Solomon’s obvious enthusiasm for the game as a player has successfully transferred over to his refereeing and he was a popular recipient of a crystal whistle for winning Referee of the Year.
Also nominated were Mark Le Cornu and Peter Smith.
The exploits of Combination champions Jersey Scottish were rightly praised and their representative would have left with the biggest sponsorship cheque of the evening had it not been for the sportsmanship gold award which earned Division II St John’s over £3,000.
Article posted on 21st June, 2004 - 12.00am
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