Mayo Association League Football
MAYO LEAGUE PRESENTATIONS - SPECIAL AWARDS
Hall of Fame. Footballer of the year. Club of the year. Personality of the year. Special Recognition Award.
The 2001 Hall of Fame award goes to a person who has given exceptional service to soccer in Mayo over a 20-year period. He has been a player, club official, League administrator, Fundraiser, and a team manager. He has excelled in all the various roles and positions he held during that period. He will be remembered most for one outstanding achievement. It was he, along with Henry Downes who inspired and guided the rest of us into providing that wonderful facility which we refer to today as Milebush Park. He was the driving force behind the entire project, and he has left an indelible legacy that will hardly be surpassed. He is a most worthy recipient of the Hall of Fame award - MICHAEL FEENEY.
The footballer of the year goes to a man who has given sterling service to the game over many years. He has shown great leadership and courage on the field of play together with a fair degree of skill. He has guided his team in his dual role as player and joint manager, to their first T.S.B. Super League success. He has had an outstanding personal season, and he now joins the elite group of players that have received the Mayo League footballer of the year award over the past 20 years. The Mayo League's Footballer of the year for 2001 is KIERAN MURPHY of Castlebar Celtic.
This is the first year that this award was introduced in to the Mayo League. The idea of the award was to recognize achievement both on and off the field of play. It was hoped that the award would encourage clubs to be more professional in terms of development, administration, disciplinary record and of course their record of success on the field of play. We are happy that all these qualities were evident in our inaugural winners. The club of the year for 2001 is the winners of the T.S.B. Super League, Westaro Super Cup, and the Welcome Inn Hotel Division One Champions - CASTLEBAR CELTIC.
This award is presented to an individual who may not always be actively involved in the actual playing side of the game, but who plays an equally important role within a club. This year's recipient has made an immense contribution to his club. He has driven and led the development at Ballyheane F.C. over the past 12 months, and is a worthy recipient of the Personality of the Year - JOHN BOHAN Ballyheane.
This year's Special Recognition award goes to a man who has given outstanding service to the game, most notably as a supporter. Although he is perhaps best identified with the game in Castlebar where he lives, he maintains a keen interest in the rapid development of association football throughout the county. We have all seen the joy on his face as he observed the official opening of a new clubhouse in Ballyheane, and a new stand in Ballyglass earlier this year. Since then, he displayed remarkable courage in the face of personal adversity by coming through a very serious illness. We are privileged to call the name of PAT LUDDEN as the recipient of this year's Special Recognition Award.