Regan Poole the big winner at Lincoln City’s end of season awards
In a difficult season, Regan Poole stood out from the rest
Named player of the year by fans, his teammates and the club, it has been a wonderful season for Regan Poole. | Photo: Chris Vaughan for Lincoln City FC
Lincoln City’s end of season awards ceremony saw players from both the men’s and women’s team, as well as staff, recognised for their efforts over a long and difficult season.
The honours were given out during an evening held at the Engine Shed at the University of Lincoln campus, with awards across multiple different sectors of the football club.
On the playing side, it was defender Regan Poole who stole the show, winning both the Player of the Season and Players’ Player of the Season – while Anthony Scully wrapped up the golden boot award for the second consecutive year.
The event was held inside the Engine Shed on May 1. | Photo: Chris Vaughan for Lincoln City FC
Separate awards were also handed out following the final game of the season, with Regan Poole winning the Vic Withers Memorial Trophy for Fans’ Player of the Year, and the Bill Stacey Memorial Trophy for Away Player of the Year.
Lewis Fiorini was the recipient of the other award presented after the Crewe game, as the Manchester City loanee was named Young Player of the Year.
Here are all the winners from the Lincoln City end of season awards ceremony:
Player of the Season & Players’ Player of the Year – Regan Poole
Regan Poole collecting the Players’ Player of the Season award with Tim Smith from Harris Jones. | Photo: Chris Vaughan for The Lincolnite
It was a campaign to remember for Lincoln City’s Welsh defender Regan Poole, as he swept the two main player awards on the night. He was recognised by both the fans and the players alike and earned both top awards for his exceptional performances across the back line.
Regan said: “I’ve been happy with my own performances and these awards mean so much to me – they’re the first individual awards of my senior career.
“I feel I’ve developed so much over the season and to win these awards is a real achievement. I’ve played in quite a few positions and learnt a lot throughout the season.
“My personal highlight has to be the last-minute winner against Charlton, it was my first goal for the club, the stadium absolutely erupted, and it is a moment which will stay with me forever.”
Goal of the Season – Ted Bishop
Ted Bishop with his goal of the season trophy, stood alongside Ian Hodson from the University of Lincoln. | Photo: Chris Vaughan for Lincoln City FC
The former Ipswich midfielder had to spend most of the season out of position due to various injury concerns for the Imps, but Ted Bishop’s memorable strike against Cheltenham Town reminded fans of his qualities in the attacking third also.
He said: “There were some good goals on the shortlist, so it was great to be recognised by everyone at the event.
“I’ve played in a lot of different positions so year and I’ve learnt a lot as the season has progressed, I’ve played a lot of games and hopefully I can stay injury free and kick on next year.”
Golden Boot – Anthony Scully
Club captain Liam Bridcutt collected Anthony Scully’s golden boot award on his behalf. Photographed here with Keith Tomlin and Buildbase guests. | Photo: Chris Vaughan for Lincoln City FC
For the second year running, Irish forward Anthony Scully picked up the award for the club’s top goalscorer. His 15 goals, despite spending around a month on the sidelines injured, were key to helping Lincoln get up the table this season.
The highlight of his season came in the Papa John’s Trophy, scoring a sensational hattrick against Manchester United under-23s at the LNER Stadium in a 3-2 win.
Academy Player of the Year – Freddie Draper
Academy manager Jordan McCann (left) collected the trophy on behalf of Freddie Draper. He is pictured here with Jo Everett from Colleague Box. | Photo: Chris Vaughan for Lincoln City Football Club
Freddie Draper signed his first professional contract with the Imps on his 17th birthday last July, and after injuries to the likes of Tom Hopper and Anthony Scully, he was given his chance in the first team last season.
Draper impressed despite not getting on the scoresheet, and he has been tipped as a future number nine for the club, so it was no surprise to see him win the award after such a breakthrough season.
Women’s Player of the Year – Jess Rousseau
Jess Rousseau, winner of this year’s Lincoln City Women’s Player of the Year. | Photo: Chris Vaughan for The Lincolnite
Jess Rousseau’s performances earned her the award of Women’s Player of the Year, undoubtedly helped by her famous hattrick in the FA Cup third round which helped the club progress further than they have ever gone before.
Women’s Players’ Player of the Year – Lauryn Wilcock
Voted for by her teammates, Lauryn Wilcock picked up the Players’ Player of the Year award. | Photo: Chris Vaughan for Lincoln City FC
Lincoln City women secured a third place finish in the Women’s National League Division One Midlands, as well as going on a famous run to the FA Cup fourth round. None of that would have been possible without the impact of Lauryn Wilcock on the team, who was named as the Players’ Player of the Year.
Women’s Golden Boot – Leah Hardy
Women’s top scorer Leah Hardy with James Doherty from GBM and Pink Skips. | Photo: Chris Vaughan for Lincoln City FC
Deputising in midfield rather than her usual position as a striker this season was no problem for Leah Hardy, who found the back of the net at a prolific rate and was named the top scorer of the women’s team for this season.
The female game is continuing to expand and grow in stature, and with players like Leah on the books at Lincoln City, you have to feel that a period of success is on its way for the Imps.
Special Achievement – Peter Grant
Peter Grant was given a Special Achievement award for his many years at the club. Here he is with Glen Merryweather from Allen Signs. | Photo: Chris Vaughan for Lincoln City FC
One of the club’s associate directors, Peter Grant, was also honoured at the ceremony, given a special achievement award for his efforts over years of experience with the club.
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Lincolnshire Police and Crime Comissioner Marc Jones believes a new Bill giving victims of crime a stronger voice in the justice system will “drive up standards and outcomes for residents at the most critical times”.
The new Bill unveiled by government this week sets out plans to ensure victims are better heard, served and protected under wide ranging reforms.
Once passed by Parliament, the Bill will create the first ever Victims’ Law – guaranteeing greater consultation with them during the criminal justice process. It will also hold agencies such as the police, Crown Prosecution Service and the courts to account for the service they provide.
The draft Victims Bill includes measure that will:
Give victims the right to attend Parole Board hearings in full and submit questions about an offender’s suitability for release
Ensure police and crime commissioners have the power to convene criminal justice partners to improve standards and outcomes for victims of crime
Give Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) lawyers a new duty to arrange a face-to-face meeting with each victim of crime before cases come to court
Increase the victim surcharge paid by offenders by 20% in a move forecast to raise an additional £20million by 2025. This will be spent on rape support centres and other measures to help victims
The Parole Board will have to consider victims’ concerns before making a decision
Lincolnshire PCC Marc Jones, as chairman of the commissioners’ national association, has been at the forefront of talks with ministers to create the new legislation.
He said: “I am absolutely committed to ensuring that anyone who is affected by crime in Lincolnshire and beyond receives the support they need.
“At a time when people need faith in the justice system they often feel further victimised by procedures that can be confusing and frustrating – we must build trust in the system by putting victims at the centre.
“This new legislation will place locally elected and accountable police and crime commissioners at the centre of the service victims receive. It will drive up standards and outcomes for residents at the most critical times.
“I will continue to work with government to ensure the Bill delivers real and lasting improvements for the victims of crime.”
Justice Secretary Dominic Raab said: “No victim should feel lost in a faceless system. We’re amplifying victims’ voices, boosting their rights at every stage and making criminals pay more to help victims recover.
“We’re doing this because it is morally the right thing to do to strengthen the care for victims, but also because it is operationally critical to drive up convictions – and keep our streets safe.”
The impact of the coronavirus pandemic has “only worsened the situation” of NHS dental access in rural counties including Lincolnshire as the profession reaches “breaking point”, according to the Vice Chair of the Lincolnshire Local Dental Committee.
A recent survey from Healthwatch Lincolnshire, which gained 236 responses, found that 45% had no access to an NHS dentist while one person said they were being forced to ‘self medicate’.
To find out the exact extent of the issue in Lincoln, we contacted 10 local dental practices to find out whether or not they are taking on NHS patieny, and here’s what we found out.
West Parade Dental Care, Newland Dental Care, Bupa Dental Care (both The Strait and Doddington Road), Lincoln Dental Care, Genesis Dental Care, and Brant Road Dental Practice ARE NOT taking on new NHS patients
Guildhall Dental Care are only taking on new child patients on the NHS, but not adults
Carholme Dental Practice is accepting children on the NHS, but only private and practice plan for adults
When Cathedral View Dental Practice on Burton Road was asked if it was taking on new NHS patients, it said it was unable to comment
Appleby & Associates in North Hykeham were also contacted, who said it was mainly private but did usually take children on the NHS, but currently had no spaces for this.
In addition, Treeline on Lincoln High Street, which is run by JDSP Dental Limited, is registering military patients on the NHS, but has no other capacity to take on NHS patients. However, it can take patients on privately.
The practice also says within its automated message before you get through that it is in the process of contacting former patients from Powell and Associates, which closed its doors after 140 years last summer.
Each practice has a UDA quota, which is the unit of currency for measuring the type of clinical activity expected from a dentist within a 12-month contract for a certified financial value. The value of this varies from practice to practice, but it is understood that Lincolnshire has historically low values and could be another reason why recruitment is getting even more difficult.
Responding to the issue of dental access in the county Andy Fenn, Vice Chair of the Lincolnshire Local Dental Committee told The Lincolnite: “NHS dental access was an issue for rural counties including Lincolnshire before the pandemic and the impact of this only worsened the situation, such that urban areas are seeing the same issues once the peculiarity of rural areas.
“The reasons are multifactorial, not least the crisis in recruitment, the like of which we have not seen before. The loss of EU graduates, accelerated by Brexit and the stalling of the ORE process (although this has now been resurrected) severely impacted this together with a paradigm shift where new graduates were reported to be far less keen to undertake NHS work instead, in many cases opting for higher training, working in private practices or hospital settings.
“Additionally the desire to work less hours, with more part time work being sought has become the norm. Added to this we have seen dentists from the baby boomers group retiring, taking with them a previous commitment to the NHS, typically founded on the previous ‘item of service’ contract.
“The pandemic restrictions have typically resulted in backlogs of work, along with staff burnout, staff shortages and low morale with increasing mental health issues being seen amongst team members. On top of this the NHS UDA system which was deemed to be problematic from its inception in 2006 has failed to deliver for patients and the dental teams.
“A thorough review carried out by Prof Jimmy Steele in 2008-2009 highlighted the need for reforms and identified the model familiar to graduates, which would facilitate the delivery of dentistry in line with how undergraduates had been taught at dental school.
“Unfortunately, even with a series of pilots and prototypes since that time, the failed NHS contract is still being used to provide dental care for patients despite the acknowledged shortcomings on both sides of the House and in the Lords. Contract reform has been promised since the time of the coalition government but here we are in 2022, without any real plans of substance. The profession is at breaking point with the NHS contract.”