Westbury United have been recognised for their discipline and sportsmanship after being awarded the Southern League Fair Play Award.
The award recognises the football club with the best disciplinary record and also takes into account respect shown towards match officials throughout the season.
Westbury not only topped their own division but were also named the overall Fair Play winners across the whole Southern League, which comprises 88 teams in four divisions covering the South, Midlands and East Anglia.
“It’s a fantastic award and something we can be really proud of,” said joint manager Ricky Hulbert. “You never go into a season expecting to win something like this, but it shows what we’re about as a club.
“It reflects the respect the players have, their discipline on the pitch and the way they conduct themselves. Keeping their discipline and respecting referees is a big part of the game and something we take seriously. There are a lot of kids who come to watch us and they can see how the game should be played.
“We don’t want players making rash challenges or getting involved in unnecessary confrontations. We’re quite strict on it. If a player gets booked early, it affects how they play and there’s always a risk of a sending off. Keeping 11 players on the pitch gives you a better chance of winning.”
Ricky added that good discipline had also brought financial benefits, with the club avoiding disciplinary fines as well as receiving prize money for winning the award.
Ricky, alongside fellow joint manager Lewis Porter, club captain Ryan Bole and centre-half Dan Restorick attended the presentation evening in Birmingham last month.
“It was a really good evening and a proud moment for the club,” added Ricky. “You’re up there with bigger clubs and it shows how far we’ve come in recent years. Awards like this help raise the club’s profile and are well worth celebrating.”
Pictured l-r: Ryan Bole, Ricky Hulbert, Lewis Porter and Dan Restorick at the awards evening in Birmingham
