Chairman and manager delighted as awards reflect true success of club this season.
By Kevin Bishop
It was a great night for Mousehole AFC first team and staff last night at the annual awards night – the “Oscars” of the league – held at Plymouth’s Crowne Plaza Hotel. Along with awards for winning the Western League Premier in 2022/23 and another to recognise their promotion from the league, Mousehole picked up two awards for their players and staff.
Jake Ash was named manager of the season and Hayden Turner received the Golden Boot for most goals scored in the season. The Seagulls’ winger clocked up 23 goals and 18 assists in the League.
The dinner marked Mousehole’s last formal involvement in the Western League. Next season they will compete in the Pitching In Southern League, Step 4 of the English National League System. Mousehole Chairman Deryk Heywood was in Plymouth to accept the awards on behalf of the club: “I felt very honoured to be part of a special evening. We are leaving behind some special people we have met on our journey. The collection of awards highlighted the true success of the club’s season”.
Mousehole gained promotion after just two seasons in the Western League, securing the championship on the final day of the season with a 3-0 win over Wellington at Trungle Parc. The battle for promotion has been filmed for the latest episode of the club’s YouTube series Way Out West.
First team manager Jake Ash emphasized that the backroom work at the club is very much a team effort: “I’m really honoured to win the award and although it’s got my name on it it should have Andy, Jack, Ben, Gareth, Adam, Kieran and Jon’s name on there too. We are a team and the success this year is as much down to them as it is me and the team. The staff we have here are incredible, I’m so lucky to work with them and for that hard work I’m really pleased that we’ve been recognised with this award.”
Hayden Turner is delighted with his form over the promotion campaign: “It’s tough to put into words how happy I was with this season, both from a personal and team perspective. I felt last season I didn’t hit the levels I wanted to in terms of goals and assists. So to be able to play a part in a large number of the goals we scored this year, both scoring and assisting, makes me really happy. Thankfully, we got the reward the club deserved, and that makes me even more excited for next season and the challenges the league above will bring.”
Preparations for Mousehole’s first season at Step 4 have already begun with an intensive running programme already underway. The Seagulls start their pre-season friendlies away at Hayle on July 8th, followed by home fixtures against Exeter City, Dorking Wanderers and Upton Park FC over the following ten days. You can find full details and purchase tickets here.
