Tara Andrews and Braedyn Crowley were the big winners at the 2025 van Egmond Jennings Awards on Friday night.
Former Matildas Joey Peters and Alicia Ferguson, along with former Socceroos Carl Valeri and Mark Milligan, were among more than 500 people at Newcastle Exhibition and Convention Centre for Northern NSW Football’s night of nights to celebrate another fantastic season across NNSWF’s premier competitions.
Maitland FC striker Braedyn Crowley was crowned the Graham Jennings Medal winner as NPL Men’s NNSW Player of the Year for the third time following his outstanding season.
Crowley also earned the NPL Men’s NNSW Golden Boot award, while Broadmeadow Magic midfielder James Cresnar earned the NPL Men’s NNSW Young Player of the Year award.
Edgeworth FC coach Peter McGuinness was named the NPL Men’s NNSW Coaches’ Coach of the Year for the second year in a row while Weston Bears midfielder Burke Fahling was awarded the NPL Men’s NNSW Players’ Player award.
New Lambton FC striker Tara Andrews was the winner of the Emily van Egmond Medal as the NPL Women’s NNSW Player of the Year.
Andrews also won the Golden Boot award, while Maitland FC goalkeeper Annabella Thornton earned the Debra Carlin Goalkeeper of the Year award for the second year in a row.
It was a good night for Maitland as Joseph Wright was named the NPL Women’s NNSW Coaches’ Coach of the Year while fellow Magpie Sophie Nenadovic was awarded the NPL Women’s NNSW Players’ Player and Media award.
It was also a big night for the HIT106.9 Northern League One competition, with Toronto Awaba FC midfielder Damon Green named Player of the Year. While Kahibah FC striker Daniel Byrne earned the Young Player of the Year award for the second year in a row.
NNSWF CEO Peter Haynes congratulated the winners and thanked everyone for another outstanding season.
“Tara and Braedyn were extremely deserving winners of the NPL NNSW Player of the Year awards,” Haynes said.
“Braedyn had an outstanding season in the NPL Men’s NNSW, receiving the highest honour for his efforts. While Tara continued to excel in the NPL Women’s NNSW competition, receiving acknowledgement for her impressive performances and scoring an incredible number of goals this season.
“It was a big year for football in our region, with promotion and relegation in full swing in the NPL Men’s NNSW, HIT106.9 Northern League One and the Zone Football League competitions. The NPL Women’s NNSW competition was once again an incredibly close and thrilling competition this season as well.
“I’d like to thank all the volunteers across our premier clubs for making the season what it was this year. Congratulations to all of the recipients of awards for their success.”
2025 van Egmond Jennings Awards
Player of the Year
NPL Men’s NNSW Graham Jennings Medal: Braedyn Crowley – Maitland FC
NPL Women’s NNSW Emily van Egmond Medal: Tara Andrews – New Lambton FC
HIT106.9 Northern League One: Damon Green – Toronto Awaba FC
Players’ Player of the Year
NPL Men’s NNSW: Burke Fahling – Weston Bears FC
NPL Women’s NNSW: Sophie Nenadovic – Maitland FC
HIT106.9 Northern League One: Kaleb Cox – West Wallsend SFC
Coaches’ Coach of the Year
NPL Men’s NNSW: Peter McGuinness – Edgeworth Eagles
NPL Women’s NNSW: Joseph Wright – Maitland FC
HIT106.9 Northern League One: Blair Newham – Kahibah FC
Young Player of the Year
NPL Men’s NNSW: James Cresnar – Broadmeadow Magic
NPL Women’s NNSW: Eva Donnelly – Adamstown Rosebud JFC, Milan Hammon – Lake Macquarie City FC, Maddy Howard – Newcastle Olympic
HIT106.9 Northern League One: Daniel Byrne – Kahibah FC
Media Player of the Year
NPL Men’s NNSW: Sam Kamper – Broadmeadow Magic
NPL Women’s NNSW: Sophie Nenadovic – Maitland FC
HIT106.9 Northern League One: Justin Houtzager – Kahibah FC
Golden Boot
NPL Men’s NNSW: Braedyn Crowley – Maitland FC 22 goals
NPL Women’s NNSW: Tara Andrews – New Lambton FC 32 goals
HIT106.9 Northern League One: Jarrod Purcell – Toronto Awaba FC and Zachary Kronholm – Cessnock City Hornets 13 goals
Goalkeeper of the Year
NPL Men’s NNSW Bill Mahoney Award: Ben Conway – Edgeworth FC
NPL Women’s NNSW Debra Carlin Award: Annabella Thornton – Maitland FC
HIT106.9 Northern League One: Stuart Plant – Singleton Strikers
Referee of the Year
Male Referee of the Year: Joshua Attard
Female Referee of the Year: Lucy Hungerford
Young Referee of the Year: Callum Hewitt
Zone League Referee of the Year: Jason King
Club of the Year:
NPL Men’s NNSW: Newcastle Olympic
NPL Women’s NNSW: Maitand FC
HIT106.9 Northern League One: Kahibah FC
Premier Youth League Boys: Newcastle Olympic
Premier Youth League Girls: Adamstown Rosebud JFC
Fair Play Award
NPL Men’s NNSW: Cooks Hill United
NPL Women’s NNSW: Maitland FC
HIT106.9 Northern League One: Dudley Redhead United
Premier Youth League Boys: Toronto Awaba FC
Premier Youth League Girls: Charlestown Azzurri
Club Championship Awards
NPL Men’s NNSW: Broadmeadow Magic
NPL Women’s NNSW: Maitland FC
HIT106.9 Northern League One: Kahibah FC
Premier Youth League Boys: Newcastle Olympic
Premier Youth League Girls: Newcastle Olympic
Premiership
NPL Men’s NNSW: Broadmeadow Magic
NPL Women’s NNSW: Charlestown Azzurri
HIT106.9 Northern League One: Kahibah FC (promoted to NPL Men’s NNSW for 2026)
Championship
NPL Men’s NNSW: Broadmeadow Magic
NPL Women’s NNSW: Charlestown Azzurri
State Cup
NPL Men’s NNSW: Cooks Hill United
NPL Women’s NNSW: Charlestown Azzurri and Maitland FC
Women’s League Cup
Charlestown Azzurri
HMRI Charity Shield
NPL Men’s NNSW: Lambton Jaffas
NPL Women’s NNSW: Charlestown Azzurri
Australia Cup Representatives
Cooks Hill United
Weston Bears
Volunteer of the Year Awards
NPL Men’s NNSW: Di Spurway – Cooks Hill United
NPL Women’s NNSW: Amber Mitchell – Charlestown Azzurri
HIT106.9 Northern League One: Kristy Pryce – West Wallsend SFC
Premier Youth League: Chris Gallagher – Wallsend FC
Bill Turner Award for Services to Football
Danny Mancinelli
50 Years of Service Award
Tony Brileson – Kahibah FC
25 Years of Service Acknowledgement
Dave Morley – Cooks Hill United
Warren Gillespie – Singleton Strikers
Chris Gallagher Snr. - Wallsend FC
Vicky Gallagher – Wallsend FC
Kim Lockwood – Wallsend FC
Tony Miller – Wallsend FC
Local Champion Awards
Team of the Year: University of Newcastle Women’s
Referee of the Year: Mya Weily – Football Mid North Coast Referees
Volunteer of the Year: Allison Gourley – Gunnedah and District Soccer Association
Coach of the Year: Amber Grosser – Nelson Bay FC
Player of the Year: Arliya Stanbury – Toronto Awaba Junior FC
Club of the Year: Abermain Rams FC