LEADING marksman Ben Arthurs has stressed that being part of a Bangor side which achieved its goal of promotion to the top flight means more to him ‘than any individual award’.
The Kircubbin native made the comments after he scooped the Championship Player of the Year accolade at the Northern Ireland Football Writers’ Association (NIFWA) ceremony in Belfast on Saturday evening.
Arthurs netted 24 goals this season as the Seasiders sealed a return to the Premiership for the first time since 2009. His latest honour comes three weeks on from receiving the top Championship prize at the NI Football League (NIFL) Awards, but the Ballycran hurler was quick to snub any suggestion that Bangor’s success this term is down to him.
“I don’t mean it in a bad way, but I genuinely don’t really care about individual awards,” he said.
“Of course, it’s nice to receive them, but more importantly the aim for Bangor was to win the league and we all bought into it.
“I play a team sport for a reason and I love my team mates. I’m not the one picking up the ball 20 yards from my goal and running the whole way, they are the ones who are putting the ball on a plate for me and keeping the ball out of our net to help us win games.
“So it’s all about the team,” added Arthurs. “Strikers get the glory and that’s the way football is, but what means more to me than any individual award is winning with the team and for the club.”
The accolades are unlikely to end here for Arthurs, who will almost certainly pick up at least one more prize for his season’s exploits when Bangor FC hosts its own End of Season Awards on Saturday (May 10) in the Clandeboye Lodge Hotel. Tickets for the event can be purchased via the club website at bangorfc.com.
Meanwhile, the club has invited any supporters and members of the public who might be able to lend a helping hand with painting work around Clandeboye Park to get in contact with director Patrick Cregg via 07770 692 725.
