RedStar duo Walsh and Nicol win NPL Gold Medals for 2022
Perth RedStar completed a golden double at the NPLWA Awards last night as Daryl Nicol and Larissa Walsh won the Gold Medals for 2022.
Walsh was voted the Women’s Player of the Year, while the Men’s award was taken out by Nicol. They received their medals at The Westin Perth from Minister for Transport; Planning; Ports Rita Saffioti MLA and Football West Chairman Sherif Andrawes.
Both strikers also received their competitions’ Golden Boots for finishing top scorers, presented by former Socceroos World Cup star Joshua Kennedy.
The Gold Medal completed a year to remember for Walsh. Her goals helped RedStar go through the season unbeaten as they swept the board by winning the NPLWA – Women’s league title, Night Series and Top Four Cup, plus the Hyundai Women’s State Cup.
She said: “It’s been an unbelievable year for me and the club. I’d like to thank all of the girls in the team and we’ll be hungry to go again next year.”
For Nicol, this is his third Gold Medal after he was the voted the league’s Best & Fairest in 2018 and 2019.
The Scot said: “It’s incredible really and a great honour to win a third Gold Medal. I know it’s an individual award but you cannot do anything without your teammates.”
The Ron Tindall Award for the NPLWA - Men’s First Team Coach of the Year was won by Floreat Athena head coach Vas Vujacic, who led his team to their first State title in 15 years. The NPLWA - Women’s First Team Coach of the Year was Carlos Vega Mena after his Perth RedStar side’s record-breaking campaign, while the Female Coach of the Year was Sam Geddes of NPLWA – Women’s Under 21 league champions Hyundai NTC.
The Dylan Tombides Young Player of the Year award, named in honour of the Perth-born West Ham striker who died from testicular cancer in 2014, was won by Armadale’s Pieter Jacobsz, while Hyundai NTC’s Tanika Lala won the Female Young Player of the Year award.
The two Goalkeeper of the Year awards went to Perth SC – Rebecca Bennett won the Women’s award while Luke Radonich got the Men’s.
Gordon Perkins’ scorpion kick for Armadale against Balcatta was named NPL Men’s Goal of the Season, with Melissa Shepherd’s long-range strike for Subiaco, also against Balcatta, won Women’s Goal of the Season.
Murdoch University Melville received a cheque for $2,000 for winning the NPLWA – Women’s Fair Play Award, while Perth SC received a similar cheque for winning the Men’s award.
Other winners included South Perth United President Sony Sindhe, who received the David Schrandt Award for the Administrator of the Year, while ParaMatildas goalkeeper Katelyn Smith took the David Cantoni Disabilities in Football Award.
New Football West Life Members Louis Prospero and Mel Moffat were also honoured, as were All Flags Referee of the Year joint winners Josh Mannella and Shane Skinner, and NPLWA – Women’s Official of the Year Caleigh Ormerod.
Football West CEO Jamie Harnwell said: “Congratulations to all of our winners, in particular to Larissa and Daryl on their stellar seasons, both are deserving Gold Medal recipients.
“Thanks to Minister Rita Saffioti for her speech and presenting the awards, to all of the Football West partners and supporters, and to all of the participants who have helped make this such a successful season.”
2022 NPLWA Awards winners
NPLWA - Men’s Gold Medal: Daryl Nicol (Perth RedStar)
NPLWA - Women’s Gold Medal: Larissa Walsh (Perth RedStar)
Ron Tindall Award for NPLWA – Men’s Coach of the Year: Vas Vujacic (Floreat Athena)
NPLWA – Women’s Coach of the Year: Carlos Vega Mena (Perth RedStar)
Women’s Coach of the Year: Sam Geddes (Hyundai NTC U21s)
Dylan Tombides Young Player of the Year: Pieter Jacobsz (Armadale)
Female Young Player of the Year Award: Tanika Lala (Hyundai NTC)
NPLWA – Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year: Luke Radonich (Perth SC)
NPLWA – Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year: Rebecca Bennett (Perth SC)
NPLWA – Men’s Golden Boot: Daryl Nicol (Perth RedStar)
NPLWA – Women’s Golden Boot: Larissa Walsh (Perth RedStar)
NPLWA – Men’s Goal of the Season: Gordon Perkins (Armadale)
NPLWA – Women’s Goal of the Season: Melissa Shepherd (Subiaco)
NPLWA – Men’s Fair Play Award: Perth SC
NPLWA – Women’s Fair Play Award: MUM FC
NPLWA – Men’s U18 Troy Bernard Player of the Year: Orhan Boric (Bayswater City)
NPLWA – Men’s U20 Player of the Year: Christian Belladonna (Perth Glory)
NPLWA Women’s U21 Player of the Year: Klaudia Houlis (Hyundai NTC)
NPLWA – Men’s U18 Golden Boot: Rhys Thompson (Sorrento)
NPLWA – Men’s U20 Golden Boot: Samuel Cook (Perth SC)
NPLWA Women’s U21 Golden Boot: Stella Zampogna (Perth SC)
David Schrandt Award for the Administrator of the Year: Sony Sindhe (South Perth United)
David Cantoni Disabilities in Football Award: Katelyn Smith
All Flags Golden Whistle Referee of the Year: Josh Mannella and Shane Skinner
NPLWA – Women’s Official of the Year: Caleigh Ormerod
Football West Life Members: Louis Prospero and Mel Moffat