THE FUTURE LOOKS BRIGHT AS YOUNG BLUEBELLS SHINE AT END OF SEASON AWARDS NIGHT
Saturday night saw the club turn its attention to the young Bluebells, celebrating a truly remarkable first season that signals a bright future for Yate Town. Families, fans, and club supporters gathered in high spirits to recognise the outstanding efforts of our Under 18 squads.
The evening was made extra special by the presence of first team manager Darren Mullings and club captain Joe Guest. Both took time to mingle with the lads and share words of encouragement. Guesty, having once stood in their very shoes, offered invaluable insights into his own journey through the ranks, inspiring the next generation with advice forged from experience.
Kicking off the presentations were the Bristol Combination League teams. Manager Ant Miles, stepping into the role of compère, gave an engaging account of the season, highlighting key milestones and standout performances. He then announced the hotly contested individual awards:
U18 Blue Awards:
Players’ Player of the Season: Pete Roberts
Top Goalscorer: Pete Roberts (again!)
Manager’s Player of the Season: Sam North
U18 White Awards:
Players’ Player of the Season: Freddie Tizzard
Top Goalscorer: Dom Hodges
Manager’s Player of the Season: Stephen Adeniyi
Special recognition was also given to James Penfold, who was named Yate Town Development Player of the Season for his exceptional performances with the Development squad, earning him a place in the Whites squad and ultimately the right back berth.
Attention then turned to the Western Counties League team. Team coach and co-founder Shane Cook – who once graced Premier League benches at Swindon Town – shared reflections on a season of highs, from a memorable trip to Manchester City to couple of the team joining the first team and making appearances in the FA cup. Shane was quick to thank the dedicated parents whose matchday support helps bring a first-team feel to every game.
WCL Squad Awards:
Players’ Player of the Season: Tyler Wood
Top Goalscorer: Tyler Wood (21 goals)
Manager’s Player of the Season: Will Down
Supporters Player of the Season: Yigithan Kepil
A heartwarming moment came with the introduction of club super-fan Sean Dacey, who has attended over 80% of the U18s' games this season. Shaun had the honour of presenting the Supporters’ Player of the Season Award to Yigithan Kepil.
Bringing the night to a close, manager John Black took the mic, stealing the show with his trademark one-liners while summing up a brilliant campaign and setting out bold aspirations for 2025/26.
The passion, promise, and pride on display made for an unforgettable evening. The future is undoubtedly bright for the young Bluebells.