2006 Senior Awards

Swifts spectacular during memorable 2006 season
Matamata Chronicle, Tuesday October 3 2006

"Football doesn't actually suck around here," announced Dwayne Barlow after picking up Matamata Swifts AFC's Club Person of the Year award at the club's annual awards evening on Saturday. And he's right. While the Knights are doing their best to run down the credibility of football in New Zealand it's refreshing to know there are huge pockets of excellence dotted right around the country, including right here in Matamata.

The Swifts celebrated a stellar season on Saturday evening by rewarding a host of individuals for their contribution during 2006. Along with Barlow, the club also recognised Nat Gaskell and Jenn Wild, the dynamic duo who led the Swifts Ladies throughout a memorable season. Gaskell and Wild were jointly awarded the trophy for Most Outstanding Club Member, although they both deflected much of the praise onto their players.

Gaskell also led her team on the field and walked away with both the Swifts Ladies' and overall senior club top goal scoring trophies after netting an incredible 60 times for her team.

Ged Parkinson (Player of the Year) and Swifts captain, Andy Birchenough (Players' Player of the Year), deservedly secured the top playing awards for their efforts during the season. Parkinson, a popular centre back, is also the joint winner, with Neil Slater, of the Swifts top goal scorer. Local boy, Colin Taylor, described as the quiet achiever of the team, was presented with the award for Most Consistent All-Round Player.

The awards were spread around for the Swifts Ladies. The two Sarah's won the top Swifts Ladies team awards. Sarah Monteith (Player of the Year) and Sarah Hockley (Players' Player of the Year) are a couple of exciting and talented young players who stood out during an excellent year for their team. College students, Jamie Morgan and Ashley Ferguson, were the Swifts Ladies Most Improved Players.

Other awards of note were Mike Collins (Swifts Reserves Player of the Year), Jono Monteith (Swifts Reserves Players' Player of the Year) and Dave Taylor (Swifts Sunday Team Players' Player of the Year).

Above all the individual awards, however, mention must be made of the unprecedented success achieved by Swifts' teams during 2006. The senior men won the Waikato Premier League for the second consecutive season and only lost the Waikato/Bay of Plenty Super League on goal difference on the last day of the season. The Swifts Ladies were streets ahead of anyone else in the Waikato Ladies 2nd division, going through the league season unbeaten and scoring 169 goals in the process. The Swifts Sunday League side also brought home some silverware after winning the Waikato Sunday League 2nd division.

Things are also looking positive for the future with five of the Swifts' ten junior teams winning WJSA titles.

You know what? Dwayne Barlow is right. Football doesn't suck in Matamata. In fact, it actually looks quite good.

Full list of award winners

Club Awards
Club person: Dwayne Barlow; Outstanding Club Member: Nat Gaskell & Jenn Wild; Personality: Jason Collins; Sportsmanship: Serena Jenkins; Veteran Player: Pete Challis; Senior Top Goalscorer: Nat Gaskell (60 goals).

1st team
Player of the Year: Ged Parkinson; Players' Player: Andy Birchenough; Most Consistent All-round Player: Colin Taylor; Most Improved: Neil Slater; Top Goalscorer: Neil Slater & Ged Parkinson (10 goals).

Swifts Ladies
Player of the Year: Sarah Monteith; Players' Player: Sarah Hockley; Most Improved: Jamie Morgan & Ashley Ferguson; Best Trainer: Roxanne Hansen; Top Goal Scorer: Natalie Gaskell (60 goals).

Swifts Reserves
Player of the Year: Mike Collins; Players' Player: Jono Monteith; Most Improved: Adrian Phillips; Top Goalscorer: Jamie Cox (15 goals).

Sunday League
Players' Player: Dave Taylor; Team Man: Rocky Hennessey; Top Goal Scorer: Bevan Shelley (24 goals).


The 2006 Matamata Swifts
Back Row (from left) Dwayne Barlow (manager), Marcelo Marquez, Colin Taylor, Adam Graham, Gary Darkes, Ged Parkinson, Neil Slater, Mike Collins.
Front Row (from left) Hayri Cihan, Scott Parsonage, Duncan Lowry (player/coach), Andy Birchenough (captain), Jason Collins, Juan Carlos Rodriguez, Alberto Romero.
Absent John Massey, Gareth Clarke, Mark Darkes.


Above Another Swifts fan. Hayri Cihan (right) celebrates a successful season with his brother Oulash.