Saturday 21st May 2022

Men's First Team defender Adam Corcoran and Ladies' goalkeeper Millie Powell both achieved a Player of the Year award double for their respective teams. Meanwhile, Royal Wootton Bassett Town's Wiltshire League Premier Division champion Development team recognised prolific forward Matt Bennett as well as two unsung heroes in their end of season awards.

Full details of the award winners for the Men's First Team, Ladies and Development sides are below.

Men's First Team

Passing judgment on the 2021-22 campaign for Royal Wootton Bassett Town's men's first team is a complicated matter.

On the one hand, Bassett once again finished in the bottom half of the Hellenic League Premier Division and recorded just twelve points against sides who finished in the top half - with six of those coming against Longlevens.

However, on the positive side of the ledger, Bassett near dominated against the rest of the division, racking up 42 points from the games played against those finishing around them in the bottom half. That allowed Bassett to achieve their highest ever points total and record the most number of wins for the club in a Hellenic Premier Division campaign.

Those achievements - modest as they might sound - were then added to on the cup front as Sam Collier's set a new FA Vase record as Bassett reached the third round for the first time in club history with a spectacular run that saw wins Knaphill, Portishead Town, Downton and Torpoint Athletic before suffering a narrow defeat against eventual semi-finalists Hamworthy United.

Alongside those collective achievements, there were also numerous individual moments to celebrate. Above all, Adam Corcoran and John Mills - the two players who received recognition in the side's end of season awards stood out.

The long-serving Corcoran had without doubt his best campaign yet with Bassett and deservedly picked up both Manager's and Players' Player of the Year awards. The defender has been a consistent, reliable performer over the course of his time with the club, and he was outstanding at centre half throughout his tenth season in blue and yellow. Bassett's third leading appearance maker, Corcoran started 43 games - taking his total up to 265 - and even added four goals, netting a brace in a 3-1 victory away at Lydney Town and a pair of match winners in the home and away fixtures against Tuffley Rovers.

While those prizes went to a familiar face, this season's Supporters' Player of the Year award went to a new arrival in the form of John Mills. The experienced centre forward joined Bassett in September and made an immediate impact, scoring on his debut away at Portishead Town in the FA Vase. It took Mills a bit of time to find his groove, though he played a key role in Bassett's Vase run, racking up a hat trick against in a 4-0 triumph against Downton and the opening goal in the subsequent round against Torpoint Athletic. Mills then enjoyed a superb second half of the season, resulting in him scoring 16 times in total (a figure that would have been 18 had Bassett's January home contest against Shrivenham not been abandoned). A menace with his set piece delivery, Mills also provided numerous assists.

Men's First Team Manager's Player of the Year: Adam Corcoran
Men's First Team Players' Player of the Year: Adam Corcoran
Men's First Team Supporters' Player of the Year: John Mills

Ladies team

The 2021-22 season was a tale of two halves for Royal Wootton Bassett Town's Ladies side. Notionally the team's third campaign in the South West Regional Women's Football League Premier Division, due to the pandemic this was the first season in the division that the team have been able to play to a finish.

Bassett's season began brilliantly and by Christmas the team appeared in the mix for at least a top three finish in a highly competitive division, having recorded 18 points from their opening nine games.

However, Bassett endured a difficult second half of the campaign, picking up just four points from the nine matches played after the turn of the year. That run included a number of narrow defeats - including a pair of losses by the odd goal against eventual champions AFC St Austell. But that run of results meant Bassett ultimately finished sixth with a record of seven wins, one draw and ten defeats.

There was also disappointment on the cup front as Bassett exited at the earliest opportunity in the Women's FA Cup and lost to lower league Warminster Town in the Wiltshire County Women's Cup quarter finals.

Nevertheless, there were still plenty of positives for Bassett to take - not least the successful integration of a number of young players into the squad, many of who were gaining their first taste of senior women's football.

One such player was goalkeeper Millie Powell, whose excellent performances led to her claiming a Manager's and Players' Player of the Year double. The young shotstopper quickly claimed the number one jersey and featured 16 times in all, keeping two clean sheets and pulling off numerous important saves that helped keep her side's chances alive with in a number of matches.

At the other end of the pitch, it was an outstanding season for striker Libby Davies. And her 39 goals in 19 appearances - a haul that featured six games in which he scored at least a hat trick - led to her claiming the Supporters' Player of the Year prize.

Ladies Team Manager's Player of the Year: Millie Powell
Ladies Team Players' Player of the Year: Millie Powell
Ladies Team Supporters' Player of the Year: Libby Davies

Development team

Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development enjoyed a remarkable 2021-22 campaign as they defied the odds to win the Wiltshire Senior League Premier Division.

Steve Yeardley's side dropped just twelve points all season as they edged out Pewsey Vale in a dramatic title race that Bassett settled with a 1-0 win against their challengers in their penultimate fixture.

Bassett were deserved champions too as they boasted both the league's most potent attack as well as its stingiest defence. In their 32 games, Bassett scored 132 times, and kept 17 clean sheets while conceding just 21 goals.

Leading Bassett's attacking efforts was Matt Bennett. The veteran forward enjoyed a phenomenal season as he struck 42 goals in 28 appearances, while also adding three further goals in ten matches for the First Team. After such a prolific season in front of goal, it was little surprise to see Bennett among the Development team's prize winners as he picked up the Players' Player of the Year award.

Long-serving Nick Mason was named Manager's Player of the Year. A consistent performer who set a strong example with his attitude and leadership on and off the pitch, the energetic midfielder featured in 27 games, providing four goals.

Meanwhile, Tyler Sheppard was named Development team Supporters' Player of the Year. The powerful forward notched notched 14 goals in 28 games, finishing as the team's third top scorer. While his tally of goals was a way behind that of Bennett and fellow strike partner Dale Richards, Sheppard played an invaluable, unsung role in his team's attacking success thanks to his unselfish willingness to chase everything down, ensuring the success of the team's pressing game.

Development Team Manager's Player of the Year: Nick Mason
Development Team Players' Player of the Year: Matt Bennett
Development Team Supporters' Player of the Year: Tyler Sheppard

Last modified on Saturday 21st May 2022 at 07:30.