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Hat Trick for Tom at End of Season Awards
It was a Friday night to remember for Tom Banton as he scooped a hat trick of trophies at the annual SCCC End of Season Awards
The 25-year-old lifted the trophies for Supporters’ Player of the Year, White-Ball Player of the Year and Player of the Season.
The evening was officially opened by Somerset CEO, Jamie Cox before Director of Cricket, Andy Hurry looked back on the 2024 season and officially said goodbye to Sonny Baker, Ned Leonard and George Thomas, who will leave the Club this winter.
The first award of the evening, the President’s Champagne moment, which was selected by Somerset CCC President Sir Peter Wanless, went to Jack Leach for claiming the final Surrey wicket in the dramatic Vitality County Championship victory at the Cooper Associates County Ground. The award was collected on Jack’s behalf by Head Coach, Jason Kerr.
Jon Bendle, Managing Director of Somerset Cricket Foundation, then took to the stage with Philip McTeer from Thatchers to present the Community Player of the Year trophy plus a £500 Michael Spiers voucher to Tom Abell.
The Tom Pearce Award for Young Player of the Year went to Archie Vaughan and he was presented with the award by Pathway Coaching Lead, Andrew Griffiths and Neil Watson from Cairnhill.
Tom then received the Supporters’ Player of the Year award from Sam Forsyth of Green Thumb.
The award for White-Ball Player of the Year was next and it saw a swift return to the stage for the Somerset ‘keeper/batter as he was presented with his second trophy of the night by Matthew Hartigan from Higos Insurance.
The Championship Player of the Year trophy was won by Jack Leach, but due to his international commitments he was not able to attend but he did send a video message which was played to the room. Club Captain, Lewis Gregory accepted the cup on Jack’s behalf from Mark Southern of WPA Health Insurance.
There then followed an amusing and entertaining Q&A session with Jason Kerr, Paul Tweddle, Lewis Gregory and Sean Dickson.
The penultimate award of the evening was the newly introduced Hollins Award: Recognising Great Partnerships. The winner was the partnership of Jack Leach and Archie Vaughan bowling at the death against Surrey at Taunton. Somerset Chair, Sir Michael Barber and Andrew Cowlin from Mouldex presented the trophy to Archie Vaughan.
The final award of the night, the coveted Player of the Season trophy went to Tom Banton, and he was presented with the cup by Jason Kerr and Stuart Lane from Trade Nation.
Sir Michael Barber officially closed the awards ceremony, and those present made their way to the Long Room to enjoy live music from The Haus Band.
