Hornets put the seal on stunning season

A near-200 turnout checked in at the club’s Hinkshay Road base for the awards as Hornets brought the curtain down on another year of impressive progress and gave head coach Paul Keen a fitting send off.

Keen has played a huge role in Telford’s recent success story but has been forced to step down due to work commitments.

But Keen leaves on the back of a superb season where he led the Hornets to the Midlands 3 West (North) title.

As well as the senior awards, accolades were also dished out to the development squad, the women’s side, who continue to go from strength to strength, and the colts team.

“It was a very good evening and one where you would have liked to have given everyone an award following the season we had,” said first team manager Roger Bates. “It put the seal on a special season.

“The battle for the senior side’s players’ player of the season award was fiercely contested.

“I think that showed that we are not a side who rely on just a couple of players. Winning promotion was a real team effort and everyone played their part.

“I would also like to pay tribute to Paul and the part he has played in our success over the last five years.

“The big things was that we got on from day one and were singing from the same hymn sheet.

“We wanted the same outcome and listened to each others point of view and came to a successful conclusion week in week out.

“It’s the end if an era. It was a very good working relationship.”

Flanker Liam Evans was the man who picked up the players’ player award while No.8 Jordan Jones received the most improved player accolade and tight-head prop Jordan Jones the coaches’ player gong.

Bates will now turn his thoughts to securing Keen’s replacement with the club still searching for a new head coach.

“There has been some quite high-class interest,” said Bates.

“We have a target in mind but we don’t want to rush into anything. We want to get the right man for the club and the players.

“There is no need to panic yet, there is plenty of time before pre-season starts.

“But we will take things careful and make sure we have the right person and someone who is the right fit for the club.

“Work towards next season is already under way. We have promoted four lads from our colts set up into the first team squad.

“It’s important that we continue to develop our own players.”

The Hornets have already fixed up one testing pre-season clash against last season’s Midlands 3 West (North) champions Whitchurch.

“We have already started our planning for pre-season by agreeing a fixture with Whitchurch,” added Bates.

“That will be a good test for us. They won the division we are going into next season.

“They are similar to us in the way that the club is structured. It should be an interesting game and it’s one the players are already looking forward to.”

Award winners: First team – Player’s player: Liam Evans; Most improved player: Cameron Mitchell; Coach’s player: Jordan Jones.

Development squad – Manager’s player: Carl Barnes.

Ladies – Player’s player: Sarah Hill; Most improved player: Kim Burn; Coach’s player of the year: Amber Williams.

Colts – Player’s player: George Goldspink; Most improved player: Steven Bowden; Coach’s’ player: George Goldspink.

Our view is that next season is one where we try to get ourselves established and they the year after we would look to push for the top four and then have a go the season after. It’s a three-year plan really.

We have quite a young side and were