Tara Andrews and Marco Gueli were crowned the big winners at the 2026 van Egmond Jennings Awards on Saturday night.
Former Socceroos Gary van Egmond and Graham Jennings were among the crowd of almost 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.
New Lambton FC striker Tara Andrews was named the Emily van Egmond Medal recipient as Cardiff Motor Group NPL Women's NNSW Player of the Year for the second consecutive year following her outstanding season.
Andrews also won the Golden Boot award, while Maitland FC midfielder Sophie Nenadović earned back-to-back Cardiff Motor Group NPL Women's NNSW Players' Player awards.
New Lambton FC championship winning coach Craig Atkins was named the Cardiff Motor Group NPL Women's NNSW Coaches' Coach of the Year, while Broadmeadow Magic goalkeeper Malli Blanch earned the Debra Carlin Goalkeeper of the Year award.
Belmont Swansea United striker Marco Gueli was the winner of the Graham Jennings Medal as NPL Men's NNSW Player of the Year following an incredible inaugural season.
Gueli also won the NPL Men's NNSW Players' Player award, while Valentine FC defender Max Middleby earned the NPL Men's NNSW Young Player of the Year Award.
Broadmeadow Magic’s three-time premiership winning coach Jim Cresnar was named the NPL Men's NNSW Coaches' Coach of the Year, while Weston Bears goalkeeper Gerard Roebuck earned the Bill Mahoney Goalkeeper of the Year award.
It was also a big night for the HIT106.9 Northern League One competition, with South Cardiff FC midfielder Jackson Pereira named Player of the Year. While Cessnock City Hornets attacker Mitchell Brown earned the Young Player of the Year award.
Lake Macquarie City FC midfielder Cade Thomson earned the HIT106.9 Northern League One Players' Player award, while fellow Rooster Carter Smith won the Golden Boot award.
NNSWF CEO Peter Haynes congratulated the winners and thanked everyone for another outstanding season.
"Marco and Tara were extremely deserving winners of the NPL NNSW Player of the Year awards," Haynes said.
"Tara had an outstanding season in the Cardiff Motor Group NPL Women's NNSW competition, receiving the highest honour for her efforts and scoring an incredible number of goals this season. While Marco excelled in the NPL Men's NNSW competition, receiving acknowledgement for his impressive performances.
"It was another big year for football in our region, with promotion and relegation continuing to build each year in the NPL Men's NNSW, HIT106.9 Northern League One and the Zone Football League competitions. The Cardiff Motor Group NPL Women's NNSW competition once again showcased the incredible talent in our region through a thrilling competition that continues to grow each season.
"I'd also 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."
2026 van Egmond Jennings Awards
Player of the Year
Graham Jennings Medal: Marco Gueli – Belmont Swansea United
Emily van Egmond Medal: Tara Andrews - New Lambton FC
HIT106.9 Northern League One: Jackson Pereira - South Cardiff FC
Players' Player of the Year
NPL Men's NNSW: Marco Gueli - Belmont Swansea United
Cardiff Motor Group NPL Women’s NNSW: Sophie Nenadović – Maitland FC
HIT106.9 Northern League One: Cade Thomson – Lake Macquarie City FC
Coaches' Coach of the Year
NPL Men's NNSW: Jim Cresnar – Broadmeadow Magic
Cardiff Motor Group NPL Women's NNSW: Craig Atkins – New Lambton FC
HIT106.9 Northern League One: Michael Body – Lake Macquarie City FC
Young Player of the Year
NPL Men's NNSW: Max Middleby – Valentine FC
Cardiff Motor Group NPL Women's NNSW: Sunny Mitchell – Lake Macquarie City FC and Ceanna Frost – Maitland FC
HIT106.9 Northern League One: Mitchell Brown – Cessnock City Hornets
Golden Boot
NPL Men's NNSW: Luis Lara Delgado – Broadmeadow Magic 29 goals
Cardiff Motor Group NPL Women's NNSW: Tara Andrews – New Lambton FC 35 goals
HIT106.9 Northern League One: Carter Smith – Lake Macquarie City FC 20 goals
Goalkeeper of the Year
Bill Mahoney Award: Gerard Roebuck – Weston Bears
Debra Carlin Award: Malli Blanch – Broadmeadow Magic
HIT106.9 Northern League One: Stuart Plant – Singleton Strikers
Referee of the Year
Male Referee of the Year: Charlie O'Bryan
Female Referee of the Year: Isabella Walshe
Young Referee of the Year: Max Morrison
Club of the Year
NPL Men's NNSW: Broadmeadow Magic
Cardiff Motor Group NPL Women's NNSW: Maitland FC
HIT106.9 Northern League One: Lake Macquarie City FC
Premier Youth League Boys: Northern Inland Rangers
Premier Youth League Girls: New Lambton FC
Fair Play Award
NPL Men's NNSW: Lambton Jaffas
Cardiff Motor Group NPL Women's NNSW: Lake Macquarie City FC
HIT106.9 Northern League One: New Lambton FC
Premier Youth League Boys: Kahibah FC
Premier Youth League Girls: Mid Coast FC
Club Championship Award
NPL Men's NNSW: Broadmeadow Magic
Cardiff Motor Group NPL Women's NNSW: Maitland FC
HIT106.9 Northern League One: Lake Macquarie City FC
Premier Youth League Boys: Edgeworth Eagles
Premier Youth League Girls: Mid Coast FC
Premiership
NPL Men's NNSW: Broadmeadow Magic
Cardiff Motor Group NPL Women's NNSW: Maitland FC
HIT106.9 Northern League One: Lake Macquarie City FC (promoted to NPL Men's NNSW for 2027)
Championship
NPL Men's NNSW: Weston Bears
Cardiff Motor Group NPL Women's NNSW: New Lambton FC
Northern NSW State Cup
Men's: Maitland FC
Women's: Maitland FC
HMRI Charity Shield
NPL Men's NNSW: Broadmeadow Magic
NPL Women's NNSW: Maitland FC
Hahn Australia Cup National Round of 32 Representatives
Maitland FC
Weston Bears
Australian Championship Representatives
Broadmeadow Magic
Volunteer of the Year Award
NPL Men's NNSW: Ange Graham – Lambton Jaffas
Cardiff Motor Group NPL Women's NNSW: Margaret Walker – Adamstown Rosebud JFC
HIT106.9 Northern League One: Laura Ranger – Wallsend FC
Premier Youth League Boys: Hayley De Somma – Mid Coast FC
Premier Youth League Girls: Jocelyn Cook – New Lambton FC
Bill Turner Award for Services to Football
Jim Foley
Distinguished Long Service
50 Years of Service Award
Con Gounis - Newcastle Olympic
25 Years of Service Acknowledgement
Dave Morley – Cooks Hill United
Jim Pappas – Newcastle Olympic
Leon Davis – New Lambton FC
NNSWF Life Member Inductee
Gerard Carey
Newcastle Permanent Local Champion Awards
Team of the Year: Stockton Sharks under-13s/02 - Newcastle Football
Referee of the Year: Kinan Oso – North Coast Football Referees
Volunteer of the Year: Taylor Pettit – Manilla United
Coach of the Year: Dave Harasti – Nelson Bay FC
Player of the Year: Tylah Rixon – Kempsey Saints
Club of the Year: Largs FC – Hunter Valley Football