No one would have been surprised with Mark Pritchard's status of being the favourite to collect the club champions fairest and best award being confirmed on Saturday evening at Floreat Athena's night of nights.
Pritchard began his career at EPL outfit Swansea City, making his professional debut on 21 October 2003 After a short spell on loan with Merthyr Tydfil at the end of the 2004–05 season, Swansea boss at the time Kenny Jacket deemed him surplus to requirements at the Liberty Stadium and he was allowed to join Conference National side Aldershot Town, where he scored his first senior career goal during a 4-2 defeat to Blackpool in the FA Cup. After a relatively successful two year spell at Llanelli he was released by the club and joined local rivals, Camarthen Town, in the summer of 2009. He left Carmarthen in 2010, spending a brief spell at Goytre United before joining Oxford City.
In early 2011 Mark moved to Perth, and signed with State Premier League side Floreat Athena. After a short and expected period of adjustment to local conditions during one of the hottest Perth summers for two decades Pritchard quickly began to show his class with a long string of fine performances. He was also recognised as one of the most entertaining imports to the WAPL in 2011. It did not take long for him to become a fans favourite with his silky skills and his all round football ability being on display for the Athena faithful.
Mark has always presented himself in a professional manner and his skills were noted and rewarded by State team coach Robbie Dunn with his selection in WA vs Perth Glory. Here he performed admirably with a wonderstrike beating Glory goalkeeper Neil Young from inside his own half with a miraculous finish.
Pritchard is the complete player. He has the ability to control the midfield, the pace to gain space with a natural tendency to attack, a competent set piece executioner and in a season that saw Athena lose more than it won he was also required on numerous occasions to reveal his defensive qualities.
Off the park the man oozes respect and humility and he never once shied away from reflecting his pride and appreciation of everything that it means to be an Athena player.
Upon receiving the award his humble nature came to fore. Whilst ecstatic with winning the coveted prize of 2011 Floreat Athena club champion, he was quick to thank the selectors and to inform the audience of his gratitude to his fellow team mates, the senior coaches and the Board for making him feel welcome at the club.
Mark Pritchard - we salute you.
Privately he has expressed a strong desire to remain at Athena for season 2012. The wave of offers from other rival clubs have inevitably begun. Securing his services for next season as soon as possible would send a clear message of Athena intentions. Any further delay in negotiating his signature would seem illogical.
Other award winners
Golden Boot - Liam Boland
Troy Bernard Rising Star - Liam Boland
Players Player - Paul van Dongen
Runners Up Club Champion - Julian Madaschi
Trophy Night Wash-Up
As someone intensely fascinated with our clubs history and tradition it is with great disappointment to this blogger that the trophy night did not see the display of three unique and very important trophies. These awards were created for the explicit purpose of being presented at the clubs annual trophy night.
First - The Troy Bernard Rising Star trophy is an impressive glittering perpetual award in honour of the club legend whose life was tragically cut short in a work accident. This should have been handed to Boland in an honourable right of passage and history.
Second - The George Papas Club Man Award was also conspicuously absent from proceedings.
Thirdly - The perpetual club champions trophy that is beautifully adorned with name badges of past winners - also a mind boggling no show.
The non-appearance and lack of special mention of these awards in inexcusable at an event that was held in the clubrooms. The blogger is not sure what this signals. Is it an act of sheer laziness or ignorant oversight.
Finally, The 2011 Night Series championship in an otherwise difficult year deserved more than passing reference and it remained for outgoing coach Ante Kovacevic to remind everyone of the significance of this achievement.
With the historian it is an article of faith that knowledge of the past is a key to understanding the present. - Kenneth Stampp
A country (Club) without a memory is a country (Club) of madmen.
George Santayana
I have received quite a few of these awards over the past 5 years it would be nice to see someone challenge me!
I have seen a lot changes at the club this year - lets hope there are not too many more
- 2011 FAFC Supporter of the year - Travis Papadopolous 
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