A MONTH after celebrating its 50th anniversary, the Shoestrings Chargrill Chippenham & District Sunday Football League brought the curtain down on the 2015-16 season with a presentation night and annual meeting at Chippenham's Gladstone Club.

It proved a red-letter day for FC Lacock's Josh Hard, who shared the Golden Boot award and was named the league's Player of the Season on the night.

For the first time since the 2005/06 season, the Gazette & Herald-sponsored Golden Boot award was shared, Hard scoring a hat-trick on the final day of the campaign to finish on 30 goals with long-time leader Steve Ball, from Westbury Conservative Club.

Hard, 21, received nine nominations from his 20 league appearances.

Ball, 25, scored his 30 goals from 15 league appearances, in which he scored three or more on six occasions and also added 10 in cup matches to finish with a combined total of 40 goals in what was his first season in the league.

Hard followed up his 15 goals from last term with another 30 from 20 appearances, adding a further six goals in cup competitions to finish with 36.

The other divisional top scorers were Corsham CC Wildcats' Adam Mitchell, who topped the list of Premier Division scorers with 27 goals.

Kieron Gleed, who scored 39 goals for Bremhill View last term, couldn’t reach those highs, but his 26 goals were good enough to see his finish as the top marksman in Division One.

Hard edged a clutch of players to claim the Gazette & Herald-sponsored Player of the Season accolade.

The Melksham player, an apprentice electrician for Neston-based Keways Poperties Ltd, made his league debut in September 2015 and scored in his Lacock’s victory over Westbury Conservative Club.

Out of 20 games during the season, his nine nominations as the best Lacock player saw him narrowly beat a host of players to the accolade.

Hard joins both Scott Evans (2005/06) and Richard Bolter (2011/12) by completing the Golden Boot and Player of the Season double.

The other big winners on the night were second division The Mallard FC, who pocketed £250 after topping the fair play charts.

Andy Adams' side were one of 26 clubs or individuals rewarded for their achievements’ on a night when, thanks to sponsorship from Shoestrings and the Wiltshire Gazette & Herald around £2250 in cash and vouchers was presented.

A combined average mark of 8.28 from both referees and fellow clubs saw them beat the 39 other sides to the accolade of Fair Play winners for the season.

Along with the £100 for winning their respective division, they collected a further bonus of £150 as overall winners.

Other divisional winners claimed £100 apiece as Corsham CC Wildcats topped the Premier Division, Corsham Centre Youth headed Division One, and league newcomers Calne United took the honours in Division Three.

There were also cash bonuses for the sides who finished in second and third place in their respective divisions. The Pack Horse (Premier), Pheasant FC (One), FC Bradford (Two) and Cavalier (Three) all received £75.

Westbury Rangers (Premier), Miller Sports (One), Lavington Rangers (Two) and Semington FC (Three) bagged themselves £50 each.

First Division side Corsham Centre Youth provided the Top Club Assistant Referee, while AFC Melksham again claimed the Premier Division honour.

Christian Malford, who were the overall winners last term, finished top of the pile in Division Two while Calne United walked off with the Division Three award.

All the clubs picked up a trophy along with £30 for their efforts with Centre claiming an additional £50.

Melksham-based referee Luke Rudman picked up the top Senior Referee award for a first time. The 32 year old, who has been officiating for more than 10 years in various leagues, previously won the best junior referee award in 2007.

Corsham official Mark Sammut walked away with his fourth top Junior Referee award, following previous wins in 1993, 2000 and 2005.

Both officials were given a cheque for £50

Bremhill View, under the guidance of 23-year-old Ben Redford, have enjoyed two fairly successful seasons, winning both the WG Parr Trophy and finishing as second division champions in 2015.

This season they gained promotion to the top flight as Division One runners-up, Redford picking up the Secretary of the Year award.

Geoff Thompson, the hard-working secretary of Christian Malford FC, became the latest recipient of the Gordon Blatchford award, presented annually by the league to an individual or club who the league believes has gone that extra mile to give something back to grass roots football.

The 68 year old, who joined Malford FC in 2003 as club treasurer, is now coming into his 14th season and was also voted Secretary of the Year in 2010.

Thompson received his nomination from Pete Hussey, manager of Stanley Park Sports Ground, Chippenham, where Malford have played their home matches for the past two seasons.

Hussey said: “it has been an absolute pleasure to host Malford and work with Geoff, and it is clear to see the reason why this Sunday morning team has been running so long”.

“It is because of the hard tireless work put in by this gentleman. He is the first one here for his team, kitbag in hand, footballs ready, and limbered up ready to run the line as I always see him do and he is the last to leave ensuring changing rooms for his team and away are swept as best as possible, flags are collected in and rubbish removed.

"He communicates with me constantly by email letting me know if he will be around for up and coming matches, and what cover he has arranged if not.

"Not once has the club been chased for unpaid fees or for an update on fixtures.

"I have full respect for Geoff, he is a proper footballing man, and if we had a Geoff involved in every club in this county and country the beautiful game would be very secure and well-run hands”

Thompson received the Gordon Blatchford Shield from league president Ken Clarke.

After finishing the last campaign with just 40 teams, the league is hopeful that the same number will start the 2016/17 season with Box Rovers, Trowbridge-based Faded FC and North Star Club set to join.

Shoestrings Chargrill will sponsor the league for the next two seasons, with the 2016-17 season getting under way on Sunday, September 4.

ROLL OF HONOUR

PREMIER DIVISION

Winners: AFC Melksham; Runners-up: Corsham CC Wildcats.

DIVISION ONE

Winners: Corsham Centre Youth; Runners-up: Bremhill View FC.

DIVISION TWO

Winners: The Grapes United FC; Runners-up: Oakhill FC.

DIVISION THREE

Winners: The Dursley Arms FC; Runners-up: Semington FC

KEN CLARKE FAIRPLAY AWARDS

Premier Division: 1 Corsham CC Wildcats FC, 2 The Pack Horse FC, 3 Westbury Rangers FC.

Division One: 1 Corsham Centre Youth FC, 2 Pheasant FC, 3 Miller Sports FC.

Division Two: 1 The Mallard FC, 2 FC Bradford, 3 Lavington Rangers FC.

Division Three: 1 Calne United FC, 2 Cavalier FC, 3 Semington FC.

Overall Winner: The Mallard FC.

PLAYER OF THE SEASON (sponsored by The Gazette & Herald): Josh Hard (FC Lacock)

TOP GOALSCORERS (overall Winner sponsored by The Gazette & Herald) - Premier Division: Adam Mitchell (Corsham CC Wildcats FC); Division One: Kieron Gleed (Bremhill View FC); Division Two: Josh Hard (FC Lacock); Division Three: Steve Ball (Westbury Conservative Club FC).

Joint overall winners: Josh Hard (FC Lacock) & Steve Ball (Westbury Conservative Club).

TOP CLUB ASSISTANT REFEREES

Premier Division: AFC Melksham; Division One: Corsham Centre Youth FC; Division Two: Christian Malford FC; Division Three: Calne United FC.

Overall winner: Corsham Centre Youth FC.

BEST SENIOR REFEREE (Sponsored by Shoestrings-chargrill): Luke Rudman.

BEST JUNIOR REFEREE (Sponsored by Shoestrings-chargrill): Mark Sammut.

BEST CLUB SECRETARY (Sponsored by The Gazette & Herald): Ben Redford (Bremhill View).

GORDON BLATCHFORD AWARD: Geoff Thompson.

KNOCKOUT CUP (sponsored by A M Print & Copy): Corsham CC Wildcats FC 5 Semington FC 0.

WG PARR TROPHY (sponsored by Ken Clarke): Rowdy Cow Rowde FC 2 Somerford FC 0.