WHILE Danny Hylton’s hat-trick of prizes grabbed the limelight, Oxford United’s Annual Awards Evening also recognised two of their young guns.

Callum O’Dowda was a worthy winner of the young player of the year prize after a terrific campaign for the winger.

The award was named after Jack Casley, the club’s first professional player and former chief scout who played a key role in developing young talent, who died last year aged 88.

But few were aware of his work off the field at old school Gosford Hill, which saw the 20-year-old win United’s community contribution award.

He said: “The teachers and coaches were fantastic to me and I felt I had to give something back.

“Every Wednesday I was going back and doing a training session with the year eights and nines.

“I went to watch some of their games as well after training, so it was nice to help them.”

Witney Gazette:

  • James Roberts won goal of the season

James Roberts was in the running for the young player award following a season where he made his senior debut, scoring five goals.

But the 18-year-old did not go home empty-handed, as the striker collected the goal of the season gong for his spectacular winner at Plymouth Argyle.

Roberts, whose strike against Grimsby Town also made the three-goal shortlist, said: “The timing of it was fantastic to score it so late on, especially as we had been under pressure in the game.

“As long as my career is – and hopefully it is a long one – I don’t think I’ll get a better one.”

The club person award went jointly to Hugh and Cheryl Howells, who are stepping down after more than a decade organising the ballboys and girls.

The recognition came as a huge surprise.

Witney Gazette:

  • Joint club person of the year winners Hugh and Cheryl Howells

 

Cheryl said: “We didn’t even know we were coming, let alone winning an award.

“It’s always been part of our lives and you feel part of the Oxford United community.”

Witney Gazette:

  • Danny Hylton walks up to collect one of his three awards