The Bantas 2011

Videos links will accompany each award below as soon as they're uploaded. I will put a mention on the home page when this is done, asap.

Photos of the evening seem to have been taken by Karen Davison (Facebook), but if there any others let me know or pass them my way.

Saturday 7 May 2011

Another year gone, another Bantas awards ceremony. Here we celebrated the good, the great and the ugly after another successful and enjoyable season on and off the pitch.

Here is who won what and how...

Golden Boot award
Winner: Chris Brown, 24 goals

He’s actually got blue boots with a number 44 on. So that’s all completely wrong. Even still, he’s had an immensely good season and not just for his goals. Brownie was proud to sit through some of his finest goals, celebrating them even more than when he even scored them. So a few more fist pumps on the pitch next season, please. Even a few celebrations when you score would be nice.

Video: Brownie's best goals

Best FAG
Winner: Louise Edwards

The best ‘friend & girlfriend’ award, given to our finest supporter. Wommy’s Girlfriend seemed a bit embarrassed to win this over Susie J, who didn’t miss a game. But for filming every game and the passion she shows, this was Banter’s thanks yet again. The Bantas would struggle without her. She managed to win herself a packet of cigarettes. Lucky her.

Best hair
Winner: Rob Stewart

It’s one fine beard. It could’ve been any one of three to win this, with Wilkes slicked back look and flowing locks earlier this season being up there, along with Cling’s braids. The girls didn’t seem to understand the setup to this gag. But then, they wouldn’t. Robbie won himself a comb set and some conditioner.

The best FAG and hair awards

Goal of the season
Winner: Tommy Warburton vs. Kurdish Euro

He seems to find a way every year to get his hands on something, this being his third goal of the season award in four years. This finely struck effort from distance just pipped Rob’s effort against Santos. But then Wommy didn’t vote for himself and doesn’t have a brother to bump up the numbers, either.

The goal of the season candidates

The football writer's award

Winner: Fintan and vidic, Arsenal FC

A firm favourite, this award. It was all to do with the finest posts and topics on Banter Central's forum. Beating Embarrassing Moments, Fantasy Football Draft 2010/11 and Prick of the Year, the Arsenal FC thread provides our resident Gooners a place to let off steam (where Embarrassing Moments seems to be the place to tell everyone when you drop off a steamy one).

Player's player of the season
Winner: David Baird

He’s scored 4 goals, he’s provided 11 assists and he deservedly collected 50% of the votes. Kid Baird was humbled by his win and looked on in embarrassment as we enjoyed his best moments from the season, which most notably included the @rse tearing he gave Carlton’s right hand side of the pitch in January. Such is his pace and threat, he’s found a way to do little defending when played in defensive roles. Hugely consistent and despite injury towards the end, Kid has continued to develop and improve.

The player's player candidates and winner

The Wooden Spoon
Winner: Dan Wilkes

For the first time ever, there were three nominees for the Wooden Spoon award. Though Brownie vacating to Vegas and Euro’s late sub-on and early sub-off shenanigans missed out, Wilkes didn’t. For this is the game described as: “playing God with Banter”, by Edd Adkins and by Parin Patel as: “the greatest game I have ever heard about.” Several lapses in concentration were quickly forgotten when he scored the injury time equaliser to take the AFC Surrey cup game to extra time. Then he scored the winning goal – a header into his own net. The Swan will do that to you.