Chippenham's player-of-the-year revealed

6:35pm Monday 23rd April 2007

BLUEBIRDS fans got a little more of Kevin Halliday than they bargained for on Saturday when the versatile defender was unveiled as the Chippenham Town Supporters' Club player of the year.

As Halliday stepped forward to collect his trophy, playful midfielder Kye Holly pulled his team-mate's shorts down in front of a packed main stand.

A blushing Halliday quickly bent down to dress himself before accepting his award, much to the amusement of the rest of the Chippenham Town players.

"I'll get Kye back for that later," vowed Halliday afterwards.

"There's been a bit of banter between us for a few weeks now. I thought Kye was going to win it.

"When you're new to a football club you always want to be liked by the fans. You don't want to be booed. It's nice to see they have taken to me this year.

"I think the team has done well over the last part of the season. The award could have gone to any one of the players."

Halliday had double cause for celebration on Saturday when he scored his first goal for the club in Chippenham's last home match of the season.

Ironically, it was Holly's absence from the team that gave Halliday the chance to break his duck.

With Holly on the bench, Halliday took over set-piece duties and it was his third minute free kick that gave Chippenham the vital three points.

He said: "I've been disappointed with my goal tally this season, but the last few weeks I've been taking some free kicks.

"Sam Allison tried to claim a touch in the box, but he can get lost."

Should Chippenham fail to clinch a play-off berth on Saturday, Halliday will already have kicked his last ball for the Bluebirds this season.

The former Cirencester Town man is suspended for the trip to Hemel Hempstead after he was sent off in the Bank Holiday derby defeat to Bath City.

"I'm disappointed to be missing the Hemel match. The other results didn't go our way today either.

"But I've got every faith in the lads. With a bit of luck we might still make it through to the play-offs."

With Adie Mings confirmed as Chippenham manager for the next 12 months at least, Halliday is confident promotion to the Conference South is within the Bluebirds' grasp, whether it happens this season or next.

He said: "I'm very happy Adie is going to be here next season because he's been good to me. His man management skills are top notch.

"He knows how to get the best out of the players and he's definitely the best man for the job.

"Adie is already trying to sort things out for next year. Hopefully most of the squad will stay together."

Kye Holly was third in the Supporters' Club player of the year honours. Striker Sean Seavill was named runner-up.

More from Hardenhuish Park in Friday's Wiltshire Times and Chippenham News.