The event, held at the Ramside Hall Hotel in Durham on Sunday evening, celebrates the achievements of North East football with the region’s players and media who have gathered to support them.
And once again there was another star-studded team at Durham with Newcastle United’s Allan Saint-Maximin winning Player of the Year and Sunderland’s Dan Neil winning Young Player of the Year .
But the evening was also special for Pools as they were recognized for their achievements, as a team, winning promotion to the Football League in June, while Sweeney received the distinguished John Fotheringham Award.
The John Fotheringham Award is given to someone who has made a significant contribution to football in the North East, with past winners of the award going to high profile figures in the region such as Sir Bobby Robson, Steve Gibson, Niall Quinn , Jack Charlton, Bob Moncur, Julio Arca, Kevin Ball and Louise Wanless.
And Sweeney is now the latest name to be added to the list for his services to North East football.
Sweeney, a club legend with Pools, took over as caretaker manager in November, before Graeme Lee’s appointment, and helped guide Pools to the FA Cup second round as well as the Papa John Trophy where they stood. will return this week. play a semi-final against Rotherham United.
And when presented with the award, Sweeney was asked if there was any particular moment that stood out in his 20-year association with Pools as a player and staff member.
“Coming back to the Football League,” Sweeney said.
“When you’re a Football League club and you get promoted that’s good, but when you give it up to get back to where we rightly thought we belonged, that was a major, major thing. So well done to the guys.
“It was difficult but we are where we need to be and hopefully the future is bright.”
Talks with Sweeney and the club are ongoing over the 38-year-old’s future at Suit Direct Stadium, with the former Pools midfielder set to play an important role in the club’s academy once he returns this summer.
