Ashington FC hands out awards to players at end of season presentation night

The midfielder-turned-striker scooped three awards – Players’ Player of the Season; Manager’s Player of the Season and top goal scorer – at the presentation evening hosted by the Woodhorn-based club.

It’s an amazing story for the 22-year-old who signed for the Colliers and was so determined to succeed that he offered to play for nothing for the first few weeks.

“I’m delighted with all three awards,” said a smiling Gilchrist.

“For the manager’s player I can’t thank Nick (Gray) and Liam (McIvor) enough – they’ve been great with me this season. No-one really understands the cold nights in December what those guys put into the job in terms of hard work and commitment – it’s not easy when we all have different jobs.

“For the players’ player, I thank the lads because it’s a 100 per cent top award. The lads have been great this season because we have had some tough times and it’s been hard work.

“We had to dig deep and we had one task – and that was to stay in the league, which we’ve done. At times, we had our backs against the wall but everyone stuck together and we came through it.”

Did Gilchrist have any idea about getting the prestigious Players’ Player trophy?

“Possibly I did, but I thought there were a few other players who would be in the running,” he added.

“I have scored goals in games over the season which have been vital and where we have picked up points, whether it be from a win or a draw. However, it’s not just a one man band – it’s the 11 players you are playing on the pitch with.”

Gilchrist came through the ranks at Newcastle United at the same time as Elliot Anderson, who now plays for Nottingham Forest.

“Elliot went in one direction but I didn’t make it as much as I would have liked,” Gilchrist said.

“However, Nick and Liam had a little bit of faith in me. They brought me in from Dunston UTS and I said to them ‘I haven’t found my feet at Dunston UTS, give me two or three weeks where I don’t need to be paid but let me show you what I can do on the pitch’ – and I feel as if I have done that.”

Skipper Karl Ross picked up the Supporters’ Player of the Season award.

He said: “Obviously I’m delighted to get the award. I think it’s special because it comes from the supporters who pay their money every week to watch you, and for them to vote for me feels like a big achievement.

“I can’t thank them enough – they’ve been absolutely brilliant with me week in, week out in the five/six years I’ve been at the club. They are special because even when we don’t play well, we get applauded off, which is undeserved but that’s what they want to do.

“I had no idea about the award – it came as a surprise – which makes it all the better.”