The Belles players and management held an informal end-of-season event last weekend, at which presentations for individual player of the year awards took place.
Manager Andy Butler and assistant Nick Buxton took the opportunity to praise all of the squad, presenting each player with a commemorative medal in recognition of their contribution to a season in which the Belles just missed out on promotion from FAWNL Division One Midlands.
Belles finished the 2021/22 season on 49 points from 22 games - just two points behind champions Boldmere St Michaels - winning 15, drawing four and losing just three games, with a goal difference of +34 from 55 goals scored and 21 conceded.
Andy Butler said: “From where we were a couple of seasons ago to where we are now – there’s a massive difference, and that’s down to you as a squad.
"You deserve all the credit for that difference, from your commitment in training and in your performances on the pitch – we, the management team, thank you for that."
Three Belles players have already featured in local and regional awards, with team captain Jess Andrew named Sheffield Star's 'Julie Chipchase' player of the year, and striker Jasmine Saxton and goalkeeper Eleanor Sharpe awarded the FAWNL Division One Midlands Golden Boot (most goals) and Gold Glove (most clean sheets) respectively. As a club, the Belles were also in the top three nominated for FAWNL club of the Year.
Winners from the evening:
Players’ player of the year: Jasmine Saxton
Young player of the year: Freya Rattenbury
Supporters’ player of the year: Sophie Bell
Ever-present player of the year: Eleanor Sharpe
Management player of the year: Isabella Trevillion
Butler congratulated the award winners: “Jasmine is unselfish and has a fantastic work rate on and off the ball, as well as being a great goal-scorer. Freya has an old head on young shoulders, has a great reading of the game and has been outstanding in her full first season.
“Sophie is an energetic wing-back and is a constant threat for us producing so many assists into the box. Ellie has played in every game this season and her golden glove award shows how hard she is to beat."
Nick Buxton then added: “So many of our squad could have won management player of the year, but we have awarded it to 'Trev' for how much she has improved and progressed as a player, and how that sets a benchmark for the rest of the squad.
"Izzy is equally comfortable with either foot which gives us flexibility in where we can play her, and her commitment to the Belles amongst all her other commitments is exemplary – it’s well deserved."
Belles chief executive officer Russ Green concluded the presentation: “My sincere thanks and gratitude to both you the players and management for your sterling efforts this season.
"We just came up short at the end but we are all now looking forward to going one further next season."