Lake Macquarie captain Sam Walker became the second player in three years to win the Northern NSW NPL player of the year honour as leading scorer on Friday night at Wests New Lambton.
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Walker claimed his first golden boot after scoring 16 goals for the eighth-placed Roosters and added the Graham Jennings Medal at the NNSW Football annual awards night.
It was the first time the player of the year was awarded the Graham Jennings Medal, which was renamed in recognition of the Hunter-bred Socceroos champion.
Charlestown striker Kane Goodchild, then with Hamilton, claimed the award double in 2016. Valentine’s American sensation Jalon Brown won the player of the year in 2017 after narrowly missing out on the golden boot with 12 goals. Coaches decide the medal count with a 1-5 vote on one opposing player in each game.
Edgeworth’s Damian Zane won a fourth consecutive coach of the year title after taking the Eagles to four premierships in as many attempts. Adamstown’s Fin Beasley was rookie of the year, Broadmeadow’s Paul Bitz was given the Bill Mahoney goalkeeper award for most clean sheets and Lambton Jaffas were club of the year for their efforts on and off the pitch. Weston’s Chris Hurley won BarTV goal of the year.
In the Herald Women’s Premier League, New Lambton had a memorable night to cap their first season in the competition.
Tara Andrews took the player, Keelan Hamilton the coach and the Eagles the club top awards. Alison Logue (Merewether) was goalkeeper of the year and Jenna Kingsley (Warners Bay) was acknowledged for leading the scoring with 26 goals.
In the second-division men’s Northern League One, New Lambton were club of the year and Nick Russell (Cooks Hill) was recognised as leading scorer with 21 goals.
Newcastle Football stalwart Steve Cucumanovski received the Bill Turner Award for outstanding contributions to administration.
In the referee category, Daniel York (youth) Eleanor Hayes (female) and Stephen Laurie (NPL) were awarded.