SALTASH United chairman Dave Bishop admitted the club was “bowled over” after the Ashes were given the Cornwall FA ‘Club of the Year’ award.

The citation from the County FA for the FA and McDonald’s Grassroots Award said: “Saltash provide football for the community, delivering a positive experience for all involved, offering a range of teams led by a passionate committee.”

It is the latest accolade for the club.

Their men’s first team have just been promoted to the Toolstation Western League; their ladies’ team are also going up after winning the Earthbound Electrical Cornwall Women’s East Division title with a 100 per cent record, in their first season since being formed (see picture above); and club treasurer and secretary Steve Morley was awarded with the highest Civic honour in Saltash.

Bishop told the Cornish Times: “We have become a big community club.

“We have the juniors, which are an individual organisation in their own right, but they are affiliated to us, and we feed all the teams that come up for their home games and they get the use of our facilities, and all the kids and coaches get free entry to our games.

“There is the ladies’ team, which has been extremely successful and they finished off their league on Sunday with another win and that means they have got a 100 per cent league record for the season, which is great.

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“We are also looking at a development team for the ladies.

“And over the last year and a half, we have opened up our facilities completely free to the NHS, and we have been used several times for flu jabs and kids’ inoculations as the health centres can’t cope with the pressure of COVID vaccinations.

“Steve also got the civic award, and the club have supported him with some of the things he does.”

The award is a great recognition for the many hours put in by people at the club over the past few years, but especially during the incredibly difficult past 15 months, when football has been battling with the problems caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

“The efforts of everyone are fantastic and it is nice to be appreciated,” said Bishop.

“I can only think we have got it as recognition for all the work we have put in to become a community-focused club, and on-field success helps.”

Other award winners were – Coach of the Year Adult: Andy Jackson; Coach of the Year Youth: Mark Richards; Grounds Team of the Year: Tregorrick Youth; Rising Star of the Year: Tom Stephens; Spirit of Grassroots Football: Hailey Collins; Project of the Year: Alison Stedeford – Five Islands Football Club; Volunteer of the Year: Jonathan Grigg; League of the year: Cornwall Women’s Football League.

Additionally, the Cornwall FA had two local awards categories, these being: Club or League Official of the Year – Penny Hodgson, and Outstanding Service to Cornish Football – Mike Newcombe.