THE number of players who have signed up with Mere Town Youth Football Club increased significantly over the last year, club chairman Neil Francis told guests at the annual presentation evening.

The club now runs nine teams and Mr Francis was proud of them all. He said each team had had good results, although there were a "few bad ones", and every team member had played well and could not be faulted on effort.

During the evening, each team manager introduced members of their squad and each player received a medallion.

Awards were handed out for the highest goal-scorers, the most improved players, the goalkeepers, the players' player, clubman and the manager's player of the year.

The top goal-scorers were: under-seven, Jonathon Butler; under-eight, Jack Tucker; under-nine, Aiden Maidment; under-ten, Rhys Newman; under-12, Eboni McCann; under-13 (girls), Rosie Day; under-14, Dan Wright; under-15 (girls), Becky Yoe; and under-16, Tim Perrett.

The George Loder Trophy for the club sports person went to Cherry Dowthwaite, and the Eddie Francis Trophy for commitment was jointly won by Mary Burfitt and Laura Inkpen.

The Andy Young Trophy for special merit went to Rhian Kyrle.

Jason Carter was voted clubman of the year. He is joint manager of the under-14 squad, which, as well as getting good results on the pitch, has worked hard to raise more than £5,000 to go on a European tour at the end of May, where it will play teams in Holland and Belgium.