St Leonards ace Neil Baptie was crowned East Kilbride Pirates’ player of the year last week as the club honoured their star performers of 2019.
Over 60 players, coaches, staff and family members from the East Kilbride Pirates senior team gathered at Committee Room No 9 in Glasgow for the annual awards.
The evening culminated with quarterback Neil Baptie being named as Player of the Year in recognition of his outstanding performance during the 2019 season.
This season the Pirates finished runners-up in North Conference Division One and qualified for the play-offs for the first time in four years, before losing out to Sandwell Steelers in the quarter-finals in August.
The other big prize of the evening, the Rob Worboys Players’ Player of the Year award, saw veteran Defensive Lineman Steven Kane recognised by his teammates for his contribution to the season’s success.
Kane called time on his playing career at the end of the season and receive a great ovation from his former teammates on collecting his prize.
This year’s Offensive, Defensive and Player of the Year awards were sponsored by OnPoint Financial and the three winners received an extra award from OnPoint’s Steven Downie, who was also on hand to present these.
Club chair Amanda McDonald said: “We had many successes to celebrate from our first year back in Division One, and many outstanding individual performances.
“I’d like to congratulate all our winners and nominees and thank our club sponsor Committee Room No 9 for providing an outstanding venue for the evening, and for their support throughout the season.
“Likewise, I’d like to extend my thanks to Steven Downie from OnPoint Financial for his continued support of the team.”
The winners in full were:
Rookie of the Year – Fraser McDonald
Also nominated – Ker Stuart, Struan Bailey
Barry Nunn Most Improved Player of the Year – Glenn Davis and Ryan Miller
Also nominated – Andrew McBride, Aaron Callaghan
Special Teams Player of the Year – James Lightbody
Also nominated – Greg Atkinson, Declan Kelly
Lineman of the Year – Mark Alexander
Also nominated – Steven Kane, Jackson Christie, Gary Meechan
Offensive Player of the Year – Dougie Meechan
Also nominated – Fraser McDonald, Jackson Christie, Neil Baptie
Defensive Player of the Year – Gordon Wallace
Also nominated – Chris Dick, Steven Kane, Angus Mackintosh
Rob Worboys Players’ Player of the Year – Steven Kane
Players who had multiple nominations were – Gordon Wallace, Angus Mackintosh, Neil Baptie, David Fallon, Struan Bailey, Chris Dick
Player of the Year – Neil Baptie
Also nominated – Steven Kane, Angus Mackintosh.
The Pirates are now hard at work planning for the 2020 season.
A try out session for new players will be held on Sunday, January 5, 2020 from 12-3pm at Hamilton Palace Sports Ground.
To find out more contact info@piratesfootball.co.uk.
