United Sporting Lution (USL) held their awards night amidst much fanfare this week. A well deserved end of season dinner at the Dove Indian Cuisine in Aylesbury saw players presented with a whole host of awards. The team finished a very creditable fourth in the Luton District & South Beds Football League. A slap up curry feast was shortly followed by the eagerly awaited awards ceremony. Club co founder and General Secretary Shakayet Hussain presented awards with the Azad Ali, assistant Manager (co-founder) and prime Sponsor Bashir Ahmed from Barket finance.
Hussain spoke of his pride at the progress of the club, which now boasts 4 teams. Manager Steve Blackhurst was in poignant mood; "We have had a good season and now is the time for us to analyse and look at ways to improve. The key is to keep aiming high."Star of the night was hotshot Yasir Rashid who picked up a hattrick awards, namely, the golden boot, management award and joint winner with Dean Ashton (not the recovering West Ham star) of the player of the year accolade for the 2006/07 season. It was not difficult to single out Yasir as during a season of personal triumph, the blazing centre forward notched an astonishing 53 goals.USL was founded by Shakayet and Azad after they both decided to do something positive for the community.
USL was thus formed on the 6th of February 2003 by close friends Shakayet and Azad. Both love the beautiful game and aspired to start up their own football team. The finance was supplied by a successful local businessman Abdul Haque, owner of the acclaimed Methi Restaurant chain.The club began life playing friendlies and their first competitive matches were played on July 2003 when they entered the competitive Sportsman Dunstable FC's 11 a side tournament. In August 2003 the club became affiliated to the Bedfordshire Football Association and month later was elected to play in the Luton Sunday Football League.
The club play their home games at the Peter Newton Ground, adjacent to the Bedfordshire Football Association Headquarters. USL practises a zero tolerance policy towards racism and racial abuse. All players and supporters are asked to join with the Club in promoting racial awareness and creating an environment in which all individuals from any ethnic origin can feel comfortable.USL also uses football as a vehicle to promote racial awareness and has developed an initiative called "Luton Shining" which aims to unite communities, create ethnic harmony via a series of projects. Sponsorship from the Football Foundation and awareness from 'Kick Racism Out Of Football' campaign have provided valuable funds to add quality to the initiative. Luton Shining is in its first year and aims to deliver social inclusion and outreach activities throughout Luton. During football's Anti-Racism week which falls in October every year, USL will embark on some innovative programmes.
The full awards list:
Fair Play - David Mitchell
Player Of The Year - Dean Ashton & Yasir Rashid
Best Newcomer - Daniel Owens
Management Award - Yasir Rashid
Top Scorer Award - Yasir Rashid
Most Improved Player - Shamim Ali
Appreciation Award - Alan Shury
Appreciation Award - Steve Blackhurst
Most Consistent Player - Peter Wilson
Community Award - Bashir Ahmed - Barket
There was even an award for yours truly...
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