WHEN you think about the people behind Woolston Rovers, Harold Crank and Warren Whalley are the names at the top of the list.
They have been involved since the day dot, and therefore it was a fitting finale to the club's diamond anniversary celebrations that the pair were recognised for their monumental efforts.
Harold and Warren received a standing ovation at the The Masonic Hall when the end-of-season presentation dinner unveiled the dedicated, passionate green-and-gold duo as the joint winners of the The Freddie Brookhouse Memorial Trophy for Clubmen of the Year.
Together, they have given the club more than 100 years’ service combined.
When they were teammates! Warren Whalley, back row, second from left, and Harry Crank, back row, far right, as Woolston Rovers teammates in the mid 1970s.
The hand-out was the last of many trophies and medals presented in a packed room at the end of a successful 60th year of the open-age section.
Harry Files had a good night, walking away with both the club's NCL player and players' player of the year awards, while Niall Toher also did the double with the North West Men's League team.
Harry Files and Neil Hyde
Former Rovers player Neil Hyde, from the National Conference League side's main sponsor LNH Transport, made the presentations along with club chairman Steve Moore and, showing that their contribution never ends, president Harry Crank and senior vice president Warren Whalley.
Rovers' NCL side were crowned Division Three Champions in 2019 and all members of the squad received winners' medals.
Award winners:
NCL Player of the Year: Harry Files
NCL Players’ Player of the Year: Harry Files
NCL Back of the Year: Aaron Barber
NCL Forward of the Year: Josh Sudlow
NCL Coaches Award: Dan Fearnley
NWML Player of the Year: Niall Toher
NWML Players’ Player of the Year: Niall Toher
NWML Back of the Year: Jimmy Evans
NWML Forward of the Year: Louis Nixon
NWML Coaches Award: Ben Crewe
Open Age Leading Try Scorer (20 tries): Justin Becker
Open Age Most Improved Player: Kieran Moore
Young Player of the Year: Simon Bishop (also received The John Boyle Memorial Trophy)
Vice Presidents Award: Dan Griffiths
Presidents Award: John Morris
Clubman of the Year (Joint): Harry Crank and Warren Whalley (they also received The Freddie Brookhouse Trophy)
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