Chickens delight

Last season the Chickens experienced huge success with their first team winning the Dorset Senior League and gaining promotion to the Dorset Premier League, their second team claiming the Dorset Reserve League title and their third team coming third in Division Three and runners-up in the Dorset Intermediate Cup.

The club's Under-18s also tasted glory, finishing third in Division One of the Under-18s League and winning the Dorset County Youth Cup.

Chickens president Terry Hine said: "We are absolutely delighted with this award, over the moon, and it caps off what was a great season.

"Everyone at the club works extremely hard and there is no doubt that we are moving in the right direction and hopefully we will continue to do that for many years to come."

Chickerell's Tony Paice was also named in the top three DCFA Groundsmen of the Year alongside Milborne Sports' Gary Aplin and Cranborne's Neil Loader. Hine added: "Tony puts in a lot of time and effort into ensuring the pitch is always at its best and it is great that he's been given such recognition."

Sherborne Town were also presented with a Special Recognition Award. In 2001 the club set out a three-phase five-year plan to develop Raleigh Grove and just three years later they built a hard-standing area, a grandstand, dugouts and floodlights.

Since then Town have gone from strength to strength. In 2005-06 they finished runners-up in the Dorset Premier League and gained promotion to the Western League, a huge ambition that they were longing to fulfil.

But despite achieving that dream the club has continued to move forwards and last season they came runners-up in Division One, claiming a place in the Premier Division for next term.

They also won the Dorset Senior Cup, beating Portland United in the final, and reached the third round proper of the FA Carlsberg Vase.

Branksome United have also been rewarded by the DCFA with three awards. Not only did the club scoop the Charter Standard Community Club of the Year, but Under-11s boss Dave Clarke won the Charter Standard Coach of the Year while Ali Clarke picked up the Charter Standard Club Administrator of the Year.

Milborne Sports FC gained the Charter Standard Club of the Year. The villagers have constructed a new pavilion at Lane End thanks to a grant from the Football Foundation and at the present time have more than 50 children aged between ten and 15 years attending their training sessions each week.

The Charter Standard Adult Club of the Year Award went to Dorset Premier League side Hamworthy Recreation. The Magna Road outfit successfully applied to the county's top flight in 1992 and has since won the title a remarkable six times, finishing third last season.

They also won the Dorset Senior Cup in 1995 and their success on the pitch has always been matched by the provisions off it thanks to top-class administration from secretary Ray Willis.

Lytchett Red Triangle Youth was named Charter Standard Develop-ment Club of the Year while Dorchester Town Under-17s player Rosie Eggleston and Jack Christopher were rewarded for their nominations to attend next month's FA National Young Leaders Camp in Nottingham.

Dorset Young Leader Eggleston, who is only 16, helps coach the Magpies' Under-10s team and is also currently in the process of completing her Level Two Coaching Award.

The DCFA have also handed Special Recognition Awards to Mike Gawler and Brian Hansford for their tremendous service to the game.

Gawler has been a registered referee for 30 years and has enjoyed 26 seasons officiating in the county's top flight. He has also been Stalbridge's secretary for the last decade and next season will be an assessor as well as carrying out work with the academy referees.

Hansford's efforts have been just as outstanding. He has been involved in Dorset football for over half a century and is currently secretary of Handley Sports FC, a role he has held since 1953.

See today's Echo for more pictures.