FITTING FINALE AS RYMAN ERA ENDS
THE Isthmian League’s clubs marked the end of the longest-running partnership in football by partying like it has just begun as they celebrated season 2016-17 at London’s Wembley Hilton Hotel!
Newly-branded as The Bostik League only hours earlier at last Saturday’s lunchtime AGM, nearly 500 guests representing the Isthmian’s 72 clubs danced into the early hours to bring the curtain down in style on 20 years of sponsorRegis ship by ex-Dragons Den star Theo Paphitis and his Ryman Group of companies.
Chairman Nick Robinson led the tributes to their departing title sponsors for a final time while recounting two decades of loyal support from Paphitis and Kypros Kyprianou, his group’s chief executive and the event’s guest of honour. On a night when the Isthmian family were rewarding fair play, sportsmanship and the achievements of their clubs and star players, there were more cheers than tears though as revellers looked ahead to a new era under the Bostik banner only 24 hours after Bluefin Sport were also unveiled as the new sponsors of the Isthmian Development League. Clive Timmins, representing Bostik, and Malcolm Alexander, from Bluefin Sport, witnessed the passion as managers, players, officials and volunteers saluted their friends and rivals.
Cheers
After being entertained by former Dulwich Hamlet, Crystal Palace and Wycombe Wanderers manager Alan Smith and ex-EastEnders star turned sports journalist Tom Watt, the Isthmian’s League’s top flight champions Havant & Waterlooville drew some of the biggest cheers when the accolades were handed out, Hawks boss Lee Bradbury also collecting the Ryman Premier’s ‘Manager of the Year’ after his side beat runners-up and play-off winners Bognor to the crown.
Brightlingsea Regent’s James Webster and Tooting & Mitcham United’s Frank Wilson were presented with the season’s other managerial accolades for masterminding the triumphs of their clubs in the Ryman North and Ryman South championships respectively.
Promotion play-off winners Bognor Regis Town, Dorking Wanderers and Thurrock were hailed by their peers as they collected their silverware, along with Alan Turvey Trophy winners Billericay Town.
Ramsgate were honoured as the overall Respect winners as the league looked forward to kicking off its 113th season.