St George’s Chris Bass Jr picked up his fourth Football Writers Player of the Year title on Wednesday evening.

The winger has enjoyed a fine season as his side clinched the Canada Life Premier League title among an unprecedented third Grand Slam.

Shortly after picking up the Gordon Clague memorial trophy Bass Jr quipped: ’I’ve had a decent season for someone who is 33! I get written off every year by the lads at training who say I’m getting old and that I’ve not got long left.

’In all seriousness I’ve had a good season - I started off well and managed to carry it on although I think my form tailed off a bit towards the end.’

Bass Jr had a prolific season in front of goal, netting 27 league goals: ’It’s definitely my best season in terms of goals - I think in total I got 38. We needed it early on the campaign because we were missing Calum [Morrissey] and Pecker [Ciaran McNulty] so much when they were out injured.

’I would say it’s one of my best seasons personally and I didn’t really expect it to be honest. I knew I had to try and push myself early on in the season, especially during pre-season, and perhaps work a bit harder than I have done.

’But then I looked at it and because of the injuries I’ve had over the last couple of years, I’ve tried to tail back the training a little bit and that’s worked well.

’It does takes a lot longer at my age now to recover from a really hard session than it used it - so I’ve had to think about it in different ways and find the right balance.

’This year I have found the balance and I’ve been really pleased how it’s worked out.’

It was a double celebration in the Bass household with Chris’s dad Chris Sr picking up the Football Writers’ Manager of the Season crown for a seventh successive year.

As always Bass Sr was quick to pay tribute to his coaching staff after his side completed a third clean sweep of Manx football’s major silverware in five seasons.

He said: ’This award isn’t just for me it’s for Paul O’Brien, Lee Dixon, Andrew Gosnell, David Cherry and the rest of the staff here at St George’s. Above all I couldn’t win this without the attitude, determination and courage of the players.’

Also retaining his award was Football Writers’ Referee of the Year Stuart Kneen.

Kneen, who has also officiated off-island this campaign, admitted that he will struggle to defend his title for a third season:

’I’ve got a third child on the way and I’m starting a new job this month so I don’t know how much I’ll be able to do next season.’

Kneen was quick to encourage former players to take up the whistle like he did and get involved with the level one refs course the FA are running in mid-June.

Andy Perry and Joey Morling were quick to pay tribute to their team-mates after picking up the Goalkeeper and Young Player of the Year awards respectively on Tuesday evening.

Former Ramsey and Laxey shot-stopper Perry collected the prize from Alf Rigby, before commenting: ’I’m pleasantly surprised. Obviously it’s a lot to do with the other guys in the team, not just me. I’ve got a great back four in front of me and obviously we’ve got a great team.

’Quite a lot of people say to me "anyone could play in goal for Geordies" but actually I think it’s quite a difficult thing.

’There are times in games when you’ll go 20 minutes where you’re not doing a lot, then all of a sudden you have to do something and I have to be there to do that.

’I’ve played in teams that have struggled but I think it’s sometimes harder to play with Geordies to keep your concentration.’

Team-mate Morling was quick to echo Perry’s praise for the rest of the Geordies team: ’It’s amazing to win this award but, as Andy says, you can’t win without the other players that you’re playing around.

’You look at the likes of Chris Jr, you’ve got him on one side and he’s a person to look at if you want to be a successful winger and a successful player in the Isle of Man and learn from the best - Chris is one of the best players to look at.

’Even Sam Caine who hasn’t really played in midfield but he’s another one who just works so hard when he’s on and off the ball.

’It’s a really nice award to win as it just shows all the hard work that you are putting in.

’Hopefully when I’m a bit older I can challenge for the senior award but, as far as I’m concerned, next year there’s another Young Player of the Year award that I need to get as well.’

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