By Liam Price, photos by Peter Robinson
Kai Evans was the big winner at Nantwich Town’s annual Men’s Awards Evening, including the top award of Player of the Season.
In front of a packed room at the Swansway Stadium, firstly there was a section to remember a couple of former Dabbers figures who passed away in the last year. Albert Pye‘s extraordinary six decades of service to the Dabbers were rightly recognised, and it was a privilege to have Albert’s wife Olga at the awards; they first met while both working for the club decades ago.
Also recognised was former player George Machin, who made nearly 100 appearances for the Dabbers in the 1970s after a long spell at Stafford Rangers, where he is regarded as one of their greatest ever players.
Before the main awards, there was a small section to recognise the great work of the club’s volunteers. The stewards, club volunteers and stalwarts like Roy Tilley, Bernard Lycett and Anne and Clive Thomasson all received gifts for their work.
The first award of the evening was Supporter of the Season. Picked by the NTISA, this was won jointly by Eddie Gould and Peter Boulton. Their long-time support both home and away, combined with their work helping the club on matchdays and during the week too, makes them both deserved winners.
Next was Outstanding Contribution of the Season, which went to Carl Thorpe. A popular figure with fans, players, and staff both here and at pretty much every club the Dabbers visit, Carl’s tireless efforts as both Secretary and kitman this year were well worthy of this award. Unfortunately he wasn’t at the awards but for a good reason, he was getting a well earned rest on holiday!
The final Player of the Month award (for April) was given to Callum Saunders, who scored 4 goals in April including a brilliant first half hat trick against Hanley.
After this, it was time for the NTISA’s Golden Moment of the Season. In a season with some tough moments but some great too, the standout was chosen as Byron Harrison’s last minute winner away at Wythenshawe Town in March to complete a come-from-behind victory and spark wild celebrations in the away end.
The supporter’s association’s final award was their NTISA Player of the Season. Calculated via a points-based system related to the Player of the Month votes, therefore providing a measure of consistently good performances across a season, it went to Tom Pratt. His dogged and determined performances, combined with 7 goals and 5 assists, made him a deserved recipient of that award.
During the evening, both club and player sponsors were recognised, including when player sponsors received match shirts from the players they sponsored.
The Top Assists award was next, and went to a player who actually left in March. Nathan Sandison topped the list with 13 before he went to Bootle and was never overtaken.
Top Goalscorer was very much here to the end of the season, Kai Evans. With 17 he went one better than his second place finish last season. 9 of those goals came in hat tricks and bursts of form that would beat any player in the league.
The first fan-voted award of the evening was Goal of the Season. This was won by a large margin by that man Kai Evans. His second goal against Hanley, a move that he started and finished with a superb run after good work also by Pratt and Byron Harrison, was a goal worthy of the award which he’s now won in back-to-back years.
A new award this year was the Manager’s Young Player of the Season. Chosen by Jon Moran and his coaching team, this went to James Melhado. James appeared in all but one game in all competitions through the season, instantly making the right back slot his own and reaching double figures in goal contributions.
Next was Manager’s Player of the Season. On his return to the club after 15 years away, Kelvin Mellor was the winner. Appearing in every league game and popping up with 4 goals, it was a great season for Kelvin. Wearing the captain’s armband in the absence of Troy Bourne, he also excelled despite playing most of the season in defensive midfield, a much less familiar position for him.
Recognition from your peers has to be one of the highest accolades you can get in football, so there must have been great pride as Byron Harrison won the Player’s Player of the Season. Another great season for Byron, containing 13 goals and 9 assists, and barely a game missed yet again. His career is having an Indian Summer at the Swansway Stadium.
Onto the two biggest awards of the evening. The Nantwich Town Men’s Young Player of the Season 2024/25, as voted for by supporters, went to Matty Tweedley. In his first full season of senior football, Tweedley made 42 appearances and got 7 assists. But more than that, his constant running in midfield, winning the ball back, and eye for a pass clearly caught the eye of many Nantwich supporters. His name also often came up in conversations with opposition fans and staff throughout the season as impressing them as well.
Finally, the big one, Nantwich Town Men’s Player of the Season 2024/25, was voted for by supporters as Kai Evans. Every time he gets on the ball, Nantwich fans expect him to do something brilliant, and more often than not he does. 17 goals and 6 assists in 39 appearances adds up to a fantastic season. It’s easy to forget he’s only 21 and probably some way off his peak as well, which is a frightening prospect for any defences who will face him in the coming years.
There was then an announcement courtesy of Jon Moran that Assistant Manager James Speare would be leaving the club this summer. James spoke powerfully about his dedication to his playing and then coaching career and the effects of that on his work/life balance with his children. He also had some very kind words for the club that he’s served brilliantly under two different managers, having been brought in by Paul Carden and kept on by Moran.
So that concluded a great evening to recognise the individual achievements of Dabbers players as the hunger for better team achievements in future grows. That’s not an issue for the title-winning Dabbers Women’s team, who will be celebrating their own awards evening on Saturday 17th May, tickets available HERE.