by Jeff King
Admired by virtually all who have seen him play. Coveted by many a Club in the Ebac Northern League Division Two and rightly above that level as well, Taylor Campbell was the big winner at The Chester-le-Street United Annual Awards.
The event that was run in conjunction with A Race Night at The Sticky Wicket at Seat Unique Arena Riverside saw Taylor win accolades from both his Manager John Gamble and teammates.
Taylor won both The Manager's Player of the Season and Player's Player of the Season awards. Justifiably and confirming the excellent season he had leading his young side in their first ever Northern League season to a respectable mid-table finish.
The Most Improved Player of the Season award went to 16-year-old Dan Robinson who went from largely unknown first-team student at Park View Academy to being an automatic choice in the Northern League first XI by the end of the season.
A young man with clearly the potential to go even further and one that every one at Chester-le-Street United are looking forward to seeing progress even further next season. A real vindication of the Park View/Chester-le-Street United project.
Finally the award that was obvious but no less deserved went to Benji Shodeinde as Top Goal Scorer for the Season. Benji came up with 17 goals in total including 16 in the league to take this award comfortably.
Possibly not a player that figured in the conversation at the beginning of the season. Benji's whole-hearted committed never-say-die attitude saw him actually play more games than anyone else during the 2022/23 season.
Congratulations to all three on their awards and to all the Players and Coaching staff at Chester-le-Street United for a season that promises so much for the future of this fledging Club.