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END OF SEASON AWARDS IS A GALA OCCASION
Honours for successful players and volunteers
East London Rugby Football Club celebrated the efforts of players, volunteers, supporters and sponsors, with a gala awards presentation night and dinner to mark the end of the 2024/25 season.
Club Co-Chairs Kat Salthouse and Nick Parrott handed out the trophies at the clubhouse in Memorial Park, West Ham.
Players honoured in the 2024/25 season awards were:
• 1st XV Player of the Season – Dan McCleary
• Vixens’ ladies Player of the Season – Rachel Edmead
• 2nd XV Player of the Season – Josh O’Neill
• 3rd XV Player of the Season – Ben Robinson
• 1st XV Most Improved Player – Senad Kurtaj
• Vixens’ ladies Most Improved Player – Ella Blom
• 2nd XV Most Improved Player – Sam Jacklin
• 3rd XV Most Improved Player – Ian Bright
• 1st XV Best Newcomer – Will Parker
• Vixens’ ladies Best Newcomer – Sara Duodu
• 2nd XV Best Newcomer – Sashah Pashaei-Tarighoun
• 3rd XV Best Newcomer – Cian Hussami
• Young Player of the Season – Kieran Baxter
• Club Person of the Season – Thomas Mohan
• Co-Chair’s Award – Darragh O’Kelly
• Special Recognition (Birdy Award) – Graham Jones
The Special Recognition award is given to those who have gone above and beyond either on or off the pitch. It is known as the Birdy Award in honour of former Vice-Chair and club treasurer Deborah Bird who died in 2022.
Also recognised on the night were club players who have represented Essex County this season: Freya Challis, Ella David, Sorcha Caudery, Lucy Thomas, Steph Smith, Senad Kurtaj, Antoine Louis, Matt Shacklady, Dan McCleary, and Chris Brown. Honoured too were 1st XV, Vixens, and 2nd XV leading try scorers Matt Shacklady, Freya Challis, and Josh O’Neill, and 3rd XV leading points scorer Frank Murphy.
East London RFC Co-Chairs Kat Salthouse and Nick Parrott said: “We congratulate all the award winners. We thank all players, volunteers, supporters, and sponsors for their work, commitment and generosity throughout the season. This has been an unprecedent season in terms of silverware with two cups and a league title for the second team and a cup for the third team. Well done everyone.”