Walker and Gayle win Eastbourne gongs - but Bloor wants whole team of potential award-winners

Borough boss Danny Bloor has praised the two key players he has picked out as his star performers of the season – and challenged everyone in the squad to put thsemselves in the running for an award next term.

Bloor picked out defender Ian Gayle and striker Charlie Walker as the manager’s joint players of the season.

Walker also picked up the goal-of-the-season prize for his long-range strike at home to Salisbury in the FA Trophy.

Bloor said he could not separate Gayle and Walker – but wanted to see every player he picked put themselves in the frame for such awards.

He told me: “Maybe if the remaining nine games were played, I could have picked an outright winner.

“With Gayley, he was immense from the moment I became manager. His defending was outstanding, and as a team we were far better when he was playing.

“He weighed in with a fantastic goal when we beat Dorking on New Year’s Day, and when I was manager, he was certainly our best defender.

“As for Charlie, he scored some vital goals for us. We all know how important Charlie is around the changing room.

“He is not only a top-drawer striker, but brings a lot to the group in other ways as well, so I couldn’t pick between them.

“But my ultimate goal is to get to the stage where all my starting 11 deserve an award at the end of the season, and that is what I’m striving for.”

I met up with the manager and double award-winner Walker at a socially-distanced afternoon at the club which was an opportunity for the forward to receive his two awards.

Walker told me: “With regards to the goal of the season against Salisbury, I remember we were with the wind. I saw their keeper off his line, and I knew that if I caught it well, he wouldn’t have a chance of stopping it.

“As a striker, if I see a chance or any sight of goal I’m going to shoot, and you would know that being on the pitch with me! Luckily, it paid off and it is a goal I will always remember.”

Walker said he was chuffed to be a joint winner of the manager’s player of the season award. “I am really happy with it and I didn’t expect it which made it even sweeter,” he said.

“When you win something, it is always nice that someone thinks you have done well. It’s good to know the manager recognises your efforts throughout the season.”

Gayle, the other player-of-the-season award winner, told me of his delight.

He was pivotal for the team throughout last season and was one of the first names I would hope to see on the teamsheet.

Whether it was stopping goalscoring opportunities in our own box or chipping in at the other end of the pitch with a goal, with that bullet header against Dorking at Priory Lane coming to mind, he was easily one of the most valued players in the team last season.

I developed a close friendship with him during our commuting to and from training and games, and caught up with him to ask about his latest accolade.

He said: “I am surprised to win it because I did not receive one man-of-the-match award all year!

“I understand that it’s not as exciting to watch a defender as it is to watch a striker so it has surprised me a lot, I didn’t think I would get it.

“But, I’m really happy and I appreciate it. As a defender you feel like the underdog with awards like this and I am chuffed with the recognition.”