A number of players and officials from the NSWPL were present on the evening as well as special guests such Central Coast chairman Peter Turnbull, West Sydney Wanderers’ Football Operations manager John Tsatsimas, along with Football NSW Chairman Robert Sestan, Football NSW Directors Mark Reading, Stephen Hayes and Greg O’Rourke and Football NSW CEO Eddie Moore.

The evening started with the “Fair Play” award as Parrmatta FC and Bonnyrigg White Eagles shared the night’s first silverware.

The Under 20’s Golden Boot award was up next and Blacktown Spartans talented young attacker Hoysar Cakal took this out after scoring 15 goals for the year as he reaffirmed his position as one of the deadliest up and coming strikers in the business. The youngster was unable to collect his trophy as he was currently on trials in Turkey hoping for a professional contract.

The Golden Boot award was the next award which followed and Bonnyrigg White Eagle’s red-hot striker Robbie Younis took out the plaudits after he scored 19 goals in 21 matches.

Younis was certainly one of the key men in the Premiership winners NSW Premier League season which saw them finish fifteen points clear of Sydney Olympic and Marconi Stallions.

It was his second Golden Boot award in his NSW Premier League career after taking out the award in 2008.

The ever smiling Younis was pleased with his 2012 season and wanted to win further silverware with the Premiership his next objective with the White Eagles.

“It’s always special to collect such an award, I worked really hard in achieving this but I have to thank the boys as well as the coaching staff on what was a superb season for us all.

“It’s great to take out awards such as this but I am focusing on what lies ahead of us and that’s making the finals this season.”

The Media Award was up next and the Blacktown Advocate scooped this for their fantastic coverage of the competition, their award was presented by Football NSW Media Manager, Mark Stavroulakis.

Blacktown Advocate have been a staunch supporter of football for the past couple of years and have promoted the sport across all levels from junior, grassroots to elite.

The Advocate’s coverage this year has stepped up a notch due to the first ever Blacktown rivalry with Blacktown City FC taking on Blacktown Spartans which the paper covered fantastically.

Award recipient Peter Theodosiou played an integral role in the promotion of the sport being the key sports writer at the publication – well done to the Blacktown Advocate and Peter.

A number of other media publications were thanked during the evening such as the Manly Daily, Blacktown Advocate, Fairfield Champion, St George and Sutherland Shire Leader, Canterbury Bankstown Express, Inner West Courier, O Kosmos, The Croatian Herald, La Fiamma, Vesti, Goal Weekly and FourFourTwo.

Bonnyirgg White Eagles was then presented the Club Championship Award as the club excelled as an entire group for season 2012 as they finished up with 349 points while Sutherland Sharks finished second with 289 and Marconi Stallions finished third with 283.

The Club Championship is based on a points system from the efforts of the Grade 18, 20 and First Grade teams which are then combined and tallied at the end of the year.

The ‘Goal of the Year’ award was introduced last year and again in 2012 ten quality goals were packaged and put together where fans were able to vote for their best on the NSW Premier League’s official Facebook page which currently boasts close to three thousand members.

Bonnyrigg White Eagles’ Tynan Diaz scooped the Goal of the Year with his fantastic drive in his side’s round 17 clash against Sydney United 58 where the Premiers recorded a 4-0 victory at the Bonnyrigg Sports Centre.

Diaz was pleased with the ‘Goal of the Year’ plaudits but wanted to end the season on a high with the Championship.

“It was certainly a goal I will never forget, it just dropped nicely for me and I was glad it hit the back of the net.

“I haven’t been renowned for scoring goals so I will take that but I’d rather a Championship medal – that’s next on the list.”

Referees played a huge role in the NSW Premier League this season and it was fitting that well known whistleblower Kris-Griffiths Jones picked up the Referee of the Year award.

It has been a remarkable year for Griffiths-Jones who has been seen as one of the most experienced referees officiating in the NSW Premier League.

The Goalkeeper of the Year Award was up next and it was the Sydney Olympic FC number one Paul Henderson who took out the award.

The veteran shot stopper had another outstanding year and was again a pivotal member of the Sydney Olympic FC side.

“I felt honoured to have taken out the award this season as there were a number of quality keepers who did really well this year.

“It’s been a tough year for us but I know we will do all that we can to get Olympic to the Final this season like we did last year.”

The Coach of the Year award was up next and Bonnyrigg White Eagles’ Brian Brown was the unanimous choice.

His side finished a mammoth fifteen points clear at the top of the table, a remarkable achievement indeed.

It was ‘Bomber’ Brown’s fifth Coach of the Year award making him one of the most successful NSW Premier League coaches in the history of the competition.

The Scotsman was delighted with yet another trophy to add to his cabinet.

“Had you told me that we were going to win the league by fifteen points at the start of the season I would have thought you’d be dreaming but we achieved this and I couldn’t have been happier for the boys.

“It was a solid showing by the entire squad and coaching staff especially with my partner in crime Cliff Pointer but the year isn’t over just yet – we have finals football to concentrate on.

“Overall I am honoured with this award but this really was a team effort.”

Running for the fifth year in a row for Football NSW, an All Stars team was picked which showcased the best 11 players that took part in the NSW Premier League in 2012.

Based on a points system which all official Football NSW journalists took part in during the course of the 22 rounds, eleven players were selected in various positions highlighting their fantastic performances for season 2012.

Each player and coach was awarded a special jersey with their name and number thanks to Football NSW’s official apparel partner hummel.

The 2012 Football NSW All Stars team was as follows:
1. Paul Henderson (Sydney Olympic FC)
2. Askin Oygur (Rockdale City Suns)
3. David Vrankovic (Bonnyrigg White Eagles
4. Travis Major (Blacktown City FC)
5. Chris Tadrosse (Bonnyrigg White Eagles)
6. Nick Stavroulakis (Sutherland Sharks)
7. Tynan Diaz (Bonnyrigg White Eagles)
8. Chris Triantis (Sydney Olympic FC)
9. Robbie Younis (Bonnyrigg White Eagles)
10. Joe Gibbs (Marconi Stallions)
11. Panny Nikas (Sutherland Sharks)
Coach: Brian Brown (Bonnyrigg White Eagles)

The final points tally for the Gold Medal ended like this:
Chris Triantis (Sydney Olympic FC) 21
Carlos Saliadarre (Blacktown Spartans) 16
Tynan Diaz (Bonnyrigg White Eagles) 16
Mark Picciolini (South Coast Wolves) 16
Panny Nikas (Sutherland Sharks) 16
Daniel Severino (Marconi Stallions) 15
Phil Makrys (Sydney Olympic FC) 15

2012 Gold Medal Dinner Award Winners List
Fair Play – Parramatta FC and Bonnyrigg White Eagles
Golden Boot Grade 20s – Hoysar Cakal
Golden Boot 1st Grade – Robbie Younis
Media Award – The Blacktown Advocate
Club Championship – Bonnyrigg White Eagles
Referee of the Year Award – Kris Griffiths-Jones
Goalkeeper of the Year Award – Paul Henderson (Sydney Olympic FC)
Coach of the Year – Brian Brown (Bonnyrigg White Eagles)
Grade 20 Player of the Year – Christopher Naumoff (Sutherland Sharks) and Marko Vukovic (Sydney United 58)
Gold Medal – Chris Triantis (Sydney Olympic)