Last updated at 14:01, Wednesday, 26 September 2012

Workington Town’s Elliott Miller was voted the Championship One Young Player of the Year at the Co-operative Championships Awards Dinner in Leeds last night.

Elliott Miller

And Town made it a memorable night by lifting the Community Programme of the Year award.

Miller, 22, whose season was cut short when he was hospitalised with concussion during the play-off clash with Whitehaven 10 days ago, has otherwise had a great season, finishing second in the Championship One try-scoring list with 23 touchdowns. He beat Town’s dual registration Hull KR star Dave Petersen and Barrow’s Ryan Shore to the award.

Town chairman Dave Bowden was delighted with the outcome, and said: “Obviously I think Elliott’s award is well deserved but so do a lot of others. He’s an exciting player to watch and very dedicated to the game. His enthusiasm and ability are infectious.

“Elliott performances have been very consistent this season, and some of those performances have been quite outstanding. He can play on the wing or at full-back and has a great turn of speed and ability to find the try line.”

This is the third time on the trot that Town have lifted the young player award, Jack Pedley winning it in 2011 and Jarrad Stack in 2010. Prior to that, Shaun Lunt won it two years in a row.

“To have won this award for the last three years says something about the club and the ability of our coaching staff to develop young players,” said Bowden. “There are some players who have just started with us who will by vying for the award next season.”

And Town community programme has also excelled this year. Led by community manager Marnie Jackson and assisted by players Jarrad Stack and Brett Carter, they fully deserved the award.

“Marnie’s efforts have been outstanding,” added Bowden. “The players get a higher profile on the pitch but, as a club, we have employed a top class community manager. Her efforts are hugely appreciated and the Workington Olympics at Derwent Park was an amazing day for Workington and the club.

“Marnie’s an outstanding young woman and we are very lucky to have her.”

Town’s Graeme Mattinson was shortlisted for the Championship one Player of the Year but lost out to Doncaster’s Paul Cooke.

2012 Co-operative Championships Award Winners

Championship Player of the Year: Liam Finn (Featherstone Rovers)

Championship Young Player of the Year: Alex Walmsley (Batley Bulldogs)

Championship Coach of the Year: Paul Rowley (Leigh Centurions)

Championship One Player of the Year: Paul Cooke (Doncaster)

Championship One Young Player of the Year: Elliott Miller (Workington Town)

Championship One Coach of the Year: Tony Miller (Doncaster)

Northern Star winner: Paul Cooke (Doncaster)

Neil Whittaker Award: Paul Grundill

Referee of the Year: George Stokes

Club of the Year: Featherstone Rovers (Championship) and Doncaster (Championship One)

Community Programme of the Year: Workington Town

• Town’s Chris Annakin and Jamie Thackray both received a £50 fine and two-match ban from the RFL following charges brought after the play-off defeat at Doncaster last Sunday.

First published at 11:30, Wednesday, 26 September 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk