Blyth Spartans manager Tom Wade was a proud man after seeing his club dominate the Evo-Stik NPL End of Season awards night.
Spartans players took all of the main awards for the Premier Division, as well as having two players – Robbie Dale and Stephen Turnbull – named in the Premier Division Team of the Year.
Wade was happy for the duo, as well as Jarrett Rivers who walked off with the Young Player of the Year award, and felt that it was a recognition of, not only the award winners’ talents but also the performance of the whole squad in a remarkable season for the Croft Park club.
“It’s been a fantastic night for Blyth Spartans and I am delighted for the players. Not just for the trophies they got but I think it is the whole team have been superb and the players who got the awards tonight are down to the whole squad as much as their individual performances.
For Jarrett (Rivers) to get Young Player of the Year, Robbie (Dale) to get his two outstanding awards and to have him and Twinny (Stephen Turnbull) in the League Team of the Year is well deserved to be fair. It’s for the whole club and they will tell you it is a thank you to the players they play alongside week in week out”
For Wade the night is another landmark moment and in the two years since he took over as manager of his hometown club he has overseen the transformation from league also-rans to play off challengers and FA Cup third round participants.
On a night when the club were name-checked by the League sponsors and officials the Spartans boss admitted that the realisation of what had been achieved in the last two seasons was starting to sink in.
“It is good that the sponsors are talking about Blyth Spartans and the fact that everyone here has been talking about us. I think you just start to realise where the club have come from in the last two years is maybe starting to sink in”
The man of the night was undoubtedly Spartans captain Robbie Dale. His double award win, coupled with being named in the League team of the year, saw the long-serving winger’s name on everyone’s lips at the ceremony.
And Wade was no different, describing Dale as “phenomenal” after seeing him collect his awards
“He is an unbelievably talented player, we know he is. I was speaking to Paul Fairclough (England C manager) and he speaks incredibly highly of him. When you are recognised by supporters of other clubs and by your peers you know that is something special.
He has been phenomenal over the last two seasons and I think he appreciates and enjoys what we do now and the way we conduct ourselves. I am delighted for him”