Rotherfield FC Marks Successful 2025/26 Season

Last week saw a fantastic turnout as Rotherfield FC joined together to recognise another successful season for the club. Members from all senior sides, supporters and friends of the club thanked and commemorated the performance of members both on and off the field.

Club President, Roddy Harman, was present to hand out the awards as Rotherfield FC recognised the efforts of all those who contribute to the continued growth of the club.

First Team Awards:

The Green’ first team manager, Wayne Clarke, thanked the squad for their efforts across the campaign and praised the side’s excellent end to the season, a run which bodes very well for the squad as they look ahead to the 2026/27 campaign.

The first award of the night was the First Team’s Players’ Player of the Year award, which overwhelmingly went to cultured centre-back, Callum Ridley (image above). The season marked Callum’s second campaign with the club but his first in a playing capacity after being part of the side’s management team as he recovered from injury last year.

It was clear very quickly how much of an addition to the side Callum was going to be. His composure on the ball at the back brought a new dimension to the side and his calmness spread right across the team as the side had their best campaign defensively for a number of years. His reading of the game and one-on-one defending was clear for all to see as he turned in excellent performance after excellent performance at the heart of the side’s defence.

Next up was Clarke’s First Team Managers’ Player of the Year, an award that went to RIdley’s centre-back partner, Jack Turner. Turner has proven to be a key pillar of the Rotherfield side for the past three seasons and this campaign saw the centre-back lead from the front. His dominance defensively was a huge feature of the side’s improvements this year, as shown by the side’s run of five consecutive clean sheets of which Turner played a huge part in.

Turner is one of the side’s standard setters and aside from his defensive resoluteness, he provides a constant threat in the opposition box as well as supporting all those around him too.

Reserve Team Awards:

Reserve Team Manager, James Bowen, was able to reflect on a positive season for the side who comfortably stayed up in Division 2 South having been promoted the year prior.

The individual player awards were a measure of consistency as the two players with the most appearances across the season took home the side’s main awards. The side’s key cog in midfield, Jack Birdsall, backed up his Managers’ Player of the Year award in 2024/25, this year taking home the Reserves’ Players’ Player of the Season.

The ‘Bald Pirlo’ has grown into a key feature of the Reserves’ side, keeping play ticking over in possession and providing fantastic shape and structure out of possession thanks to his mature and disciplined play. His performances have been noted across the club with Birdsall making his first team debut this year too.

Having returned to the club this season, left-back William Sutton capped a fantastic campaign by claiming the Reserves’ Managers’ Player of the Year. Sutton made the left-back position his own early into pre-season and never relinquished it.

His quality on the ball in open play and from set pieces became a key feature of the side and his ever-infectious running up the flank drew plenty of plaudits. Like Jack, Will’s performances were rewarded with multiple first team appearances over the campaign.

Veterans’ Awards:

Rotherfield’s very own Gordon Strachan, Stuart McInnes, reflected on another great year for the Vets’ as he commended excellent availability right across the season - even if it was a campaign where seven different players donned the ‘keepers shirt for the side!

The Players’ Player of the Year went to one of the side’s driving forces, Andy Garrett. Garrett’s performances across the year, in multiple different positions, played a huge part in the team’s continued success. Playing right across the pitch, Garrett’s midfield combination with Ben Mansford and Alex Thompson in the latter part of the campaign became a key feature of the victories that the Greens’ enjoyed.

A constant voice of encouragement across the pitch and a player who truly leads from the front both on and off the ball, it wasn’t a surprise to any gathered to see Andy’s efforts recognised.

It was one of Garrett’s midfield partners, Ben Mansford, who claimed the Reserves’ Managers Player of the Year. Mansford’s constant energy is a huge marker of the Reserves’ play who can always be found winning the ball back high up the pitch and setting off attack after attack for the side.

His box-to-box midfield play is a huge support to his teammates and Mansford’s presence in the side and constant availability made him a shoo-in for the award.

Club Awards:

The first club award of the evening marked one of Rotherfield’s own who notched up 40 years of service in the 2025/26 campaign. Within that period Robin Paige has enjoyed over 25 years of appearances for the senior setup, has been a club youth coach without interruption since 1998, served as Fixtures Secretary, kit man, groundsman and a whole host of other roles! A one club man who Rotherfield FC are lucky to have.

This year marked the second awarding of the club’s new Significant Goal Award. The award, in memory of Aaron King, recognises a goal that has a noticeable impact beyond the result. This year, the committee decided unanimously to award it to Jack Spampanato for his last minute winner for the first team at home to Lindfield.

The attacker enjoyed a fantastic season for the side, being a constant threat to all Premier Division defences that he came up against. The goal in question sparked fantastic scenes with all players and the dugout coming together in wild celebrations and it sparked the First Team’s best run of the season - going on to claim five clean sheets, three wins and two draws in their next five games.

The Club’s Young Player of the Season, The Josh Alexander Award, is always hotly contested and this year was no different with Bailey Mintrim, Cameron Howard, Archie Russell and James Gurney all fantastically strong contenders for the award. In the end, the committee decided that goalkeeper James Gurney was the most deserving of the award.

Having joined the club in the summer, Gurney recovered from a nasty shoulder injury to showcase excellent form for the first team in the second half of the season growing in confidence and authority as he claimed the #1 shirt.

The final award of the evening was reserved for Rotherfield’s Club Person of the Year. Although there were, as always, a number of strong contenders, the committee decided unanimously that Dave Bristow was the overwhelming winner this year. Dave is one of those volunteers that the club is lucky to have and put simply, the club would not run as it does without him.

He is a constant presence at the ground, perfectly manicuring our playing surfaces, taking deliveries, conducting pitch inspections, maintaining and washing machinery and the club as well as pretty much everything else! A rare breed of community supporter, Dave is one of those who doesn’t need to be asked to help - he is always the first to put up his hand to help.

The evening marked the club’s last official gathering of the 2025/26 season, with further announcements made across the evening as plans continue to come together for the new campaign. We look forward to sharing these announcements publicly as the club prepares for arguably one of its most exciting seasons to date!