Norton defender Richie Gaston won the manager’s player of the year and players’ player of the year award at the Second Division club’s presentation night.

James Briggs wion the committee player of the year award. Micky Dunwell won the goal of the season award for his effort against Thornaby in February.

Esh Winning keeper Danny Molyneux won both the player of the year and players’ player of the year awards at the club’s presentation night, which also saw them celebrating their victory in the Ernest Armstrong Cup a few days before.

Kieran Megran was voted young player of the year; Lee Mason the sportsman of the year, and Craig Coates the leading scorer.

Bishop Auckland striker Gavin Parkin scooped three awards at the club’s presentation night, winning the players’ player of the year, club player of the year and website player of the year awards.

Midfielder Joe Fairish was the supporters' choice as player of the year. Parkin scored 18 goals in the league in the season just finished.

Consett striker Mattie Moffat will be staying at the club for the new season. Moffat, the league’s top scorer with 37 goals, was rumoured to be leaving Belle Vue, with West Auckland one of the clubs supposedly chasing him.

But Consett have announced that Moffat won’t be going anywhere. Manager Kenny Lindoe said: “Mattie is coming off contract, but instead has signed a registration form for the new season.”

Moffat arrived from Sunderland Nissan last summer, and has formed a powerful partnership with Steve Johnson, who finished the season with 26 goals.

Crook striker Darren Kokes was given the Second Division leading scorer award at the league dinner tonight – even though he finished second in the overall scoring charts.

Sunderland RCA centre forward Andy Jennings finished top with a total of 26 goals, but because seven were scored for First Division club Seaham Red Star, then the league management committee decided to give the award to Kokes, whose goals have all been scored in the second division.

Consett striker Mattie Moffat has won the First Division award with 38 goals, seven ahead of his nearest rivals, Durham pair Steve Richardson and Adam Johnston.

Ryton secretary Steve Murray says that survival will be the aim in the First Division next season.

In only their third season in the Northern League, the former Northern Alliance club were promoted along with Penrith and South Shields, and Murray said; “We’re 14th alphabetically in the First Division, and that will do us at the end of next season!

“It’s taken us fifteen years to get there, and we want to make sure we stay there. It’s hard to believe that back in 1994 we were playing in the Northern Alliance second division, and now we’ll be playing at a higher level than some of the more established clubs.

“We’ve got 24 teams of different age groups at the club. We’re hoping to expand on the land next to the ground, and these are exciting times for the club.”

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