GUN goalkeeper Mathew Ryan has been awarded another accolade for his outstanding Hyundai A-League season by being presented with the 2011/12 Mariners Medal on Friday night.
GUN goalkeeper Mathew Ryan has been awarded another accolade for his outstanding Hyundai A-League season by being presented with the 2011/12 Mariners Medal on Friday night.
The 20-year-old custodian was lauded with the Mariners- top gong at a gala dinner held at Kooindah Waters Golf Resort, Wyong.
With over 250 people in attendance, Ryan picked up the most illustrious prize of the evening to go with other awards he received for his stellar season in Australia-s top flight.
Indeed, Ryan was recently named Hyundai A-League Goalkeeper of the Year and NAB Young Player of the Season at the Hyundai A-League Awards night held in Sydney.
Add those honours to Ryan-s selection in the Professional Footballers Australia team of the season, and it-s clear the Yellow and Navy-s talented number one has impressed teammates, coaches, opponents, media and football fans alike this campaign.
A number of other awards were announced on the evening as the Mariners took time out to celebrate their Premiership winning campaign.
Users of ccmariners.com.au voted midfielder Michael McGlinchey as the Fans- Player of the Season. Simon Fisher of the Yellow Army Supporters Group presented McGlinchey with his award.
Meanwhile, Dutch defender Patrick Zwaanswijk, boom youngster Bernie Ibini and former Mariner Matt Simon – now with Chunnam Dragons in Korea-s K-League – shared the club-s Golden Boot accolade.
Throughout the 2011/12 Hyundai A-League regular season and finals series, each player found the back of the net on seven occasions.
Crafty, composed and courageous midfielder Niko Stanojevic won the club-s National Youth League Player of the Year. Stanojevic battled back from a groin injury to flourish in Tony Walmsley-s title winning team of 2011/12.
The Chairman-s Award, presented to a person who has gone above and beyond their call of duty to help and support the football club, was awarded to volunteer Graham O’Laughlin.
O’Laughlin selflessly donates his time to the club as a cook, preparing the players- lunches daily. He also contributes on game day and has assisted the club as a referee-s liaison throughout the 2012 AFC Champions League.
Mariners- Chairman, Mr Peter Turnbull, made a special presentation to former coach Lawrie McKinna to recognise his contribution to the club, while the Mariners also presented the playing squad and coaching staff with a framed memento as special acknowledgement for their efforts in finishing top of the table in the 2011/12 Hyundai A-League.
Turnbull also surprised the majority of the gallery by in announcing that club favourite, and former Head Coach McKinna would re-joining the club on a three-year deal as the club-s technical director.
Fox Sports football presenter Adam Peacock was the night-s Master of Ceremonies.
