2008 Gold Medal Dinner a huge success as Brendan Gan scoops major award
The talk of the evening was on who would be crowned the 2008 Gold Medal winner replacing last season?s Champion, Manly United?s Robbie Cattanach.
The evening started with the Fair Play award which was presented by FNSW Director Linda Ward with the Macarthur Rams scooping up the night?s first silverware.
The Under 20?s Golden Boot award was up next and Marconi Stallions? talented young attacker Brodie Mooy took this out after scoring a stunning 15 goals for the year.
Mooy?s talents did not go unnoticed as he was snapped up by the Newcastle Jets? youth team squad for season 2008-2009.
The Andreas Golden Boot award was the next which followed and A.P.I.A.-Leichhardt Tigers? red-hot striker Robert Younis took out the plaudits after he scored an amazing 21 goals in 21 matches.
Due to his heavy commitments with A-League side Adelaide United, where Younis was snapped up at the conclusion of the TeleChoice Premier League season, the gun striker was unable to accept his award however was honoured at achieving such a feat.
?I set out to score as many goals as possible for the Tigers this season and I achieved this.
?I worked ever so hard during the off-season and had winning the Golden Boot as one of my aims along with hopefully playing finals football and getting a contract in the A-League.
?Although I did not realise my dream in playing finals football with the Tigers, I did achieve my other two goals.?
With a number of media personnel assisting the cause of promoting the TeleChoice Premier League in all facets of the media such as print, television and radio, it was fitting that the Fairfield City Champion scooped the Media Award.
Accepted by up and coming journalist Michael Chammas, the Fairfield City Champion was a huge supporter of the round ball game.
Sydney Olympic was then presented the Club Championship Award as the club excelled as an entire group for season 2008.
The Club Championship is based on a points system from the efforts of the Grade 15, 16, 18, 20 and First Grade which are then combined and tallied at the end of the year.
Referees played a massive role in the TeleChoice Premier League this season and it was fitting that well known whistleblower Jonathan Streater picked up the Referee of the Year award which was presented by FNSW Director George Jackson.
Having recently celebrated his 35th birthday, Streater was delighted with the award especially after being involved in the game as a referee for twenty-three years thus far.
The Errea Goalkeeper of the Year Award was up next and yet again it was A.P.I.A.-Leichhardt Tigers? number one man under the posts Matthew Nash that took out this honour for the second consecutive season.
His terrific displays for the Tigers earned him a call-up with A-League side the Central Coast Mariners where he was snapped up for season 2008-2009.
The Coach of the Year award was up next and Sutherland Sharks? well liked man in the middle Brian ?Bomber? Brown was rewarded for what was a huge year for the Shire based club.
The Scotsman is no stranger to the TeleChocie Premier League but having taken the Sharks to Premiers for 2008 and into the Grand Finals of both the Johnny Warren Cup and TeleChoice Championship Series, Sutherland were hoping to emulate more success next season.
In a first for FNSW, an All Stars team was picked and created on the evening which showcased the best 11 players that took part in the TeleChoice Premier League.
Based on a points system which all FNSW journalists took part in during the course of the 22 rounds, eleven players were selected in various positions highlighting their fantastic performances for season 2008.
Each player and coach were awarded a special jersey with their name and number thanks to Errea.
The inaugural 2008 Football NSW All Star team was as follows:
1 Matthew Nash (A.P.I.A.-Leichhardt Tigers)
2 Emmanuel Zunino (Sydney Olympic)
3 Pedj Bojic (Sutherland Sharks)
4 Danial Cummins (Wollongong FC)
5 Shane Webb (Bankstown City Lions)
6 Nahuel Arrarte (Marconi Stallions)
7 Robbie Cattanach (Manly United)
8 Brendan Gan (Sutherland Sharks)
9 Christopher Boyle (Sydney United)
10 Robert Younis (A.P.I.A.-Leichhardt Tigers)
11 Bradley Boardman (Sutherland Sharks)
Coach: Brian Brown (Sutherland Sharks)
The time had come to select the Grade 20 Player of the Year and after calculating all the points, Sydney United?s Daniel Rezo took out the major honour.
Rezo?s amazing displays for the Reds saw him pip the likes of Mark Symington, Jin Kim, Sean Mitchell, Darko Vidovic, Gavin Forbes and Daniel King for the coveted award.
The final points tally for the Grade 20 Player of the Year ended like this:
Daniel Rezo 21
Mark Symington 19
Jin Kim 15
Sean Mitchell 14
Darko Vidovic 13
Gavin Forbes 11
Daniel King 10
The stage was set for the final award of the evening and that was the prestigious Gold Medal.
After 22 rounds the Gold Medal was presented to Sutherland Sharks hardworking and rising young midfielder Brendan Gan who finished up with 22 points, a point clear of A.P.I.A.-Leichhardt Tigers? Robert Younis.
Gan had a sensational season with the Sharks in his first year in the TeleChoice Premier League and was one of the main engine rooms in Brown?s squad.
“I am very appreciative of the hard work and efforts that were put together by the entire squad for season 2008.
“I would like to thank Brian Brown and Cliff Pointer who helped me big time this season as well as my fellow team-mates.
“I am very honoured to have picked up this award and hope I can continue on with my career with Sydney FC,” Gan stated.
The final points tally for the Gold Medal ended like this:
Brendan Gan 22
Robert Younis 21
Peter Zorbas 15
Shane Webb 12
Bradley Boardman 12
Luka Glavas 12
Osagie Ederaro 12
Ivo Bosnar 12
2008 Gold Medal Dinner Award Winners List
Fair Play – Macarthur Rams
Golden Boot Grade 20 – Brodie Mooy – Marconi Stallions
Andreas Golden Boot 1st Grade – Robert Younis ? A.P.I.A.-Leichhardt Tigers
Media Award ? Fairfield City Champion
Club Person of Year:
A.P.I.A.-Leichhardt Tigers – John Mellino
Bankstown City Lions – Mendo Petkovski
Blacktown City – Graham Crawhall
Macarthur Rams – Paul Cant
Manly United – Nick Tomaino
Marconi Stallions – Robert Tolomeo
Penrith Nepean United – Laurie Solomon
Sutherland Sharks – Greg Tinker
Sydney Olympic – Nick Svinos
Sydney United – Louie Apostolovski
West Sydney Berries – Terry Wilkinson
Wollongong FC – Arthur Moulton
Club Championship – Sydney Olympic
Grade 20 Premiership Runners Up – Manly United FC
Grade 20 Premiers & Grade 20 Championship Runners Up – Sydney Olympic
Grade 20 Champions – Marconi Stallions
1st Grade Premiership Runners Up – Wollongong FC
1st Grade Premiers 1st Grade Championship Runners Up – Sutherland Sharks
1st Grade Champions – Wollongong FC
Referee of the Year Award – Jonathan Streater
Errea GK of Year – Matthew Nash – A.P.I.A.-Leichhardt Tigers
Coach of Year – Brian Brown – Sutherland Sharks
Grade 20 Player of Year – Daniel Rezo – Sydney United
Gold Medal – Brendan Gan – Sutherland Sharks
