Vaughan hails 'Team Trafford'

Trafford manager Garry Vaughan has hailed his promotion winning side as 'exceptional' and showered the club's fans and officials with praise for their part in winning promotion to the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League's top flight.

Vaughan, twice named manager of the month over the campaign in recognition of his own efforts, refused to single out individual heroes and instead choose to hail everybody connected with Trafford for the parts they'd played in the build-up to their dramatic penalty-shoot out win over Cammell Laird in the First Division North Play-off Final.

Speaking after Trafford's annual awards night, Vaughan, pictured, said: "It's hard to really put in perspective what the players have achieved and I don’t think they actually realise just yet! For a club of our size and resources to have been up in the top six all season was in its self a massive credit to them, but to round it all off by going up is the stuff of dreams.

"The way they have sacrificed time and made themselves available to us shows a real high degree of professionalism and I know at times I push them hard but I hope they all think that the end result is worth it. I don't intend to single out individuals as we truly are a team, which reflects in the amount of time and care they take with each other, but from our most senior players who have played in the main bulk of our games to those who have featured less both older lads and our youngsters I want to say a huge congratulations for what they have achieved.

"Both myself and Goodie [assistant manager Wayne Goodison] owe them a huge thank you for the way they have conducted themselves this season. This club is less than 30 years old and you have taken them to the highest level in their history, for that you will always remember. Goodie summed it up after the Play-off final game when he told them, exceptional things happen when you are involved with exceptional people and they all are exactly that, exceptional.

Trafford's manager was also delighted they'd proved a few critics wrong and added: "We had plenty of people saying all season that we would drop away, or that our style of play would not get us there, indeed that we were predictable, but from pre-season they took on board what we wanted to do and how we intended to play and even though at times we had some tough days. I think the belief in themselves and knowing that we trusted them ensured that they stuck to their principles and got the reward.

"It was great to see everyone enjoying the end of season awards and congratulations to Nia Bayunu who took the Supporters Player of the Year Award, Michael Oates who took both the Players' Player and KMD Recycling awards, and Martyn Andrews who was our choice for Managers Player of the year. I am sure they will join me in thanking all their team mates for the support all season which helped them to take personal honours.

Vaughan reserved special praise for the club's off-field team. Crediting the club's committee as key to their success, he said: "I am also delighted for our committee and in particular the more senior and long term members, some of who have been at the club since day one and indeed founded it! This achievement again would not be possible without the backing and organisation we receive.

"Everyone in our league knows that we probably have one of the smallest playing budgets, but what we do have is people who have integrity and who do other things to make this club have such an appeal for me to be able to attract and keep players.

"Well done also to Dave Murray who won the Clubman of the Year, Dave works really hard to produce our programme, keep the website up to date and is always busy on a match day. Finally from that night, congratulations to two of our longest serving fans Andy and Linda Semple who were named as Supporters of the Year, again thoroughly deserved!

Vaughan hopes the excitement around their promotion run and rise in crowds during the season will continue over the next campaign. "I hope that those who have started to come recently will return and continue to enjoy the 'Trafford Family' atmosphere that we seem to generate," said Trafford's manager.

"I know this season we have generated more interest and our crowds are up so again for them I hope that interest leads to more people getting involved with us. Just as our main sponsor KMD Recycling did this season and have really immersed themselves in our club and I think got carried away with the atmosphere! Thanks to them for their support and for continuing as our main sponsor next season."

Vaughan is now looking to the coming campaign and said he is under no illusions about the task ahead. "We don't know how we will fare in the Premier league just yet, only time will tell, but I do know that we will embrace the challenge and be ready and looking forward to August," he said.

"We are already looking to ensure that our current squad are all happy to stay with us and the indication so far is that non of them want to leave. I have one or two targets that I hope will join us and therefore make our squad stronger as we are under no illusions that we will have to all improve massively if we are to be competitive again in a higher standard of football."

Vaughan also paid tribute to their beaten First Division North Play-off Final opponents, Cammell Laird manager Tony Sullivan, his staff and players.

He added: "Tony and his staff are genuine football people, he shares my enthusiasm for the game and his own club and he has our full respect for the achievement of finishing second and getting to the final.

"It's a cruel way to lose and I know he will be hurting. I hope they can build and do well again next season, his players should be proud to be playing for him, and judging by there efforts all season, they are."