Breakwells honoured by league for their work
THERE was an emotional moment at the annual Ebac Northern League awards dinner when Derek and Jennifer Breakwell received the Arthur Clark Memorial Award for their unwavering service to Whitley Bay.
The award was handed over just months after the death of Breakwell, who served as club secretary at Hillheads for several years as well as becoming a member of the league’s management committee.
Jennifer has continued to work as part of the club and was on hand at the awards night at Ramside Hall to receive the award.
Newton Aycliffe manager Brian Atkinson and Boro Rangers boss Ben Wheatley lifted the Manager of their Year awards after leading their clubs to the Division One and Division Two titles respectively.
Aycliffe’s Aaron Brown was
named Division One player of the year, with Birtley Town striker Aidan Rutledge landing the Division Two award as part of a personal treble after he was also named BBC Radio Newcastle’s Player of the Season and was Division Two’s top goalscorer.
The Young Player of the Year awards went to Whickham striker Scott Robson and Horden CW’s Jack Maskell and Fair Play prizes were given to Ashington and Esh Winning.
However, it was the decision to award the Breakwells the Arthur Clark Memorial Award which provoked an emotional tribute from Northern League chairman Glenn Youngman.
He said: “We were delighted to choose Jennifer and Derek Breakwell as the recipients of the Arthur Clark award.
“It is a bittersweet award having sadly lost our colleague Derek but it is a fitting tribute to their unstinting work.
Kieran Graham was named as Referee of the Year and special commemorative salvers were presented to Bishop Auckland and Ashington after they passed their 3,000th and 2,000th games as Northern League clubs during the campaign.