Woking Cougars FC
Presentation Day
Annual Presentation Day
This is THE Cougar event of the year. We acknowledge everyone for his or her commitment, achievement, hard work, efforts both on and off the pitch at this special event. From the players, managers, coaches committee, parent reps and the parents to the spectators who turn out week after week in all weather. This night is the one where everyone gets a mention, gets a chance to gather and take enormous pride in ‘our club’. Our policy is to award ALL of the members, not just the ones who have scored all the goals or saved them all. Of course they must be recognised and there are the five special awards and trophies that managers and coaches deliberate over all season.
We believe that football is and must always be remembered as being a team game, the striker cannot score if he doesn’t have mid field, the goalie cannot save if he doesn’t have a defence and so on….
Sometimes we wonder if trophy night is the right name for this event – should it perhaps be a celebration night or club night. It’s not just the winning of a trophy but as we said before it’s about the whole club – acknowledging and celebrating as one.
All the players are recognized, without them there is no club. Some are outstanding on the pitch, some have suffered through injury yet still found the strength to play or have overcome personal problems to continue their season. Some are recognized for their sheer determination to play……everyone counts and trophy night is the night to tell them this. As with all events we try to produce that something extra special – something the boys and girls will remember. It might be a well-known face, it might be a local celebrity – who knows! Again from the decoration of the venue to the quality of the trophies everything is taken into account.
This is also an opportunity to include the ‘Make
A Wish Foundation’, a charity dear to everyone at Woking Cougars FC. This is in conjunction with the very special award given to a Cougar member, in memory of Daniel Kelly, a player / member of Woking Cougars who sadly lost his battle with childhood leukaemia. Please see below footnote on club’s proud history of the Daniel Kelly Award.
Woking Football Club and Woking Borough Council are also invited – and this event shows them what’s been happening at Cougars this season. We are very proud of our association with them, too.
People who say ‘we do it for the love of the club’ or ‘we don’t expect anything in return’ are right to have this attitude but we should all be proud of our club, we should all be congratulated, we work hard, we play hard and we strive to be the best.
Age Group Awards Categories:
Top Goal Scorer
Most Improved Player of the Year
Sportsman of the Year
Player’s Player of the Year
Manager’s Player of the Year
Special Club Awards:
Chairman’s Award
Daniel Kelly Award
Daniel Kelly Award
Daniel Kelly was a local lad who played for Woking Cougars FC, under one of the founding managers, Eddie Smith. When he joined the club, he was already having treatment for leukaemia, and many of the clubs would not allow him to join them. Eddie was happy for him to play for Cougars and welcomed Daniel to his team with open arms.
Daniel, a keen Spurs supporter loved football very much. He had the privilege of seeing England play at Wembley. He was a very happy child with a wonderful zest for life and he became a prominent, enthusiastic team member – most importantly a COUGAR. To see this happy, active lad you would never know Daniel was really so very ill.
The
Make A Wish Foundation UK made it possible for Daniel and his family to visit Disneyland in Florida – a dream come true from this wonderful charity. Daniel, despite his brave battle to conquer leukaemia, died in 1998. Make A Wish continues to raise funds for other children like Daniel, and in Daniel's honour Woking Cougars each year donates money that the club has raised to this great charity. (Money is raised throughout the season via a Manager’s Fines Jar, Cougar Tournaments, and from other functions & events - the club also adds money to it too.)
Woking Cougars also dedicates an award in memory of Daniel every year to another Cougar boy or girl who also has special qualities, Cougar qualities. The winner of this award is announced at Trophy Night.
Managers nominate a player from each team who they feel honours Daniel's name. Each nomination is discussed by the managers and committee - then voted upon. The nominee with the most votes is awarded this very special prize.
If you have been touched by this wonderful Cougar story and want to support Make A Wish Foundation then please visit their website
http://www.make-a-wish.org.uk for more information.
Contact Address: Make-A-Wish Foundation UK, 329-331 London Road, Camberley, Surrey, GU15 3HQ. Tel: 01276 24127.
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Cougars would like to thank
Elegant Balloonz for providing the balloon display shown in the above picture.
