IT was a glorious night for Woolston Rovers at the National Conference League’s presentation dinner on Saturday.

Having picked up the Division Three title, both of the league’s individual awards also made their way back to Monk Sports Club.

Head coach Mal Holt was named Division Three Coach of the Year while the Player of the Year prize went to joint-captain Harry Files.

With both awards a reflection of a memorable 2019 season for Rovers, attentions can now turn to next year in Division Two.

Holt was keen to pay tribute to assistant coach Rob Campbell, who joined the club prior to this season, for the impact he has had.

“I’d like to thank every player who has put on a Green & Gold shirt this season and helped to win the title and clinch promotion,” he said.

“I haven’t coached alone this year – Rob Campbell joined us at the beginning of pre-season and has had a massive input into our success. This award is just as much his as it is mine.

“We have delivered the visions and ideas and the lads have delivered them as a team, and by team I don’t just mean 17 of them on a Saturday.

“We have had a great team spirit between all of the open-age and that has been key to us achieving what we have done.

“Also to see the delight on the faces of Nikki Whalley, Lucille Whalley, Dave Whalley and Steve Moore as we picked up the trophy at the dinner was priceless.

“We can’t wait to get going again in Division Two.”

Files, who led the team on the field alongside Ryan Brown, says promotion made the sacrifices made among the squad seem worthwhile.

“It could have been anyone of the lads going up to collect the award,” he said.

“It has been an absolute blast to go out onto the field with these lads each week.

“We make a lot of sacrifices to play in a National competition and to get rewarded like this makes it all worthwhile.

“Mal and Rob have been fantastic – they had a clear goal for us this year and that was to get automatic promotion.

“The past few years have been a sickener when we have gone out in the Play Offs but we made sure that wasn’t going to happen again.

“All the lads are really looking forward to testing ourselves in a higher league next year.”