It was the evening for strikers to shine at the 2025 van Egmond Jennings Awards.

Maitland FC’s Braedyn Crowley and New Lambton FC’s Tara Andrews scooped the pool at the Northern NSW Football’s (NNSWF) prestigious ceremony, which celebrated another fantastic season across its premier competitions.

The star-studded event also welcomed former Matildas Joey Peters and Alicia Ferguson, as well as Socceroos legend and current Newcastle Jets coach Mark Milligan, among the more than 500 guests at the NEX on 21 November.

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.

For good measure, he snared the Golden Boot award, too, after netting 22 goals.

Andrews equalled those feats in the women’s division.

The Jets legend, who rejoined the ALW squad in 2025/26 as an assistant mentor, took home the Emily van Egmond Medal at the NNSW Player of the Year.

She acquired the Golden Boot as well, beating opposing keepers on 32 occasions.

“Both were extremely deserving winners of the NPL NNSW Player of the Year awards,” NNSWF CEO Peter Haynes said.

“Braedyn had an outstanding season in the Men’s NNSW, receiving the highest honour for his efforts.

“Tara continued to excel in the Women’s NNSW competition, obtaining acknowledgement for her impressive performances and scoring an incredible number of goals.

“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.

“I’d like to thank all the volunteers across our premier clubs for making the season what it was in 2025.

“Congratulations to all of the recipients of awards for their success.”

Meanwhile, Broadmeadow Magic midfielder James Cresnar earned the NPL Men’s NNSW Young Player of the Year accolade.

Edgeworth FC’s 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 captured the NPL Men’s NNSW Players’ Player.

Maitland FC shot-stopper Annabella Thornton picked up the Debra Carlin Goalkeeper of the Year award.

Maitland’s Joseph Wright secured 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 plaudits.

In the HIT106.9 Northern League One competition, Toronto Awaba FC midfielder Damon Green collected Player of the Year and Kahibah FC striker Daniel Byrne Young Player of the Year.

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 Hammond – 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: Maitland 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

For more sports stories:

• Wily Jets defender Šušnjar puts trust in young teammates
• Cardiff Hawks junior crowned new King at Swans
• Jets rookie Bertolissio keen to grab ALM lifeline with both hands

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