Ranson takes top Raiders honours

Jacob Ranson won the Supporters', Players' and Coaches Player of the Year awards for London Raiders (Image: Archant)

Jacob Ranson walked off with the three biggest prizes at the London Raiders end-of-season awards night at Pontlands Park Hotel last night.

The young forward won 56 per cent of the vote to claim the Supporters’ Player of the Year – previous winners received the Recorder Trophy for such an honour – and also took the Players’ Player of the Year and Coaches Player of the Year awards.

Former Albany pupil Ranson was the only ever-present during a rollercoaster season for the club, scoring 15 goals and seven assists in 44 appearances as Raiders finished eighth and reached the National League play-offs.

The 19-year-old, returning to his home-town club after a brief spell with MK Thunder during 2013/14, almost missed the start of the season after an accident left him with severe burns to his arm and chest, but he played through the pain barrier as Raiders beat Cardiff on the first night.

Liam Chong was named Best Forward for London Raiders (pic: John Scott) (Image: Archant)

Ranson also flew home early from a family holiday to ensure he would not miss a game, when the team were in the midst of a 19-game losing run, and his dedicated, hard-working efforts throughout the campaign were readily acknowledged by fans, team-mates and coach Alan Blyth.

Liam Chong took the Best Forward prize after finishing as the club’s second-highest scorer with 33 points (10 goals, 23 assists) from 28 appearances, having joined shortly before Christmas.

Import signing Vaclav Drabek took the Best Defenceman award, having topped the scoring charts with 35 points (22 goals, 13 assists) from 41 outings, while fellow blue liner Jack Cooper claimed the Newcomer of the Year prize.

Captain Tom Davis was given the Heart of Raiders award, while the players handed out a special prize to a young supporter as thanks for her fund-raising efforts over the course of the season.

Vaclav Drabek finished as London Raiders' top scorer during the 2014/15 season (pic: John Scott) (Image: Archant)

John Scott thanked fellow directors Kevin Davis, Dave Leach and Alan White for their support and commitment throughout a trying campaign and also revealed how talks with Havering Council over the new rink in Romford town centre were progressing, with the venue set for a September 2017 opening.

Many other volunteers and helpers were also thanked for a wide range of assistance, from washing the playing kit and selling 50/50 tickets to compiling match-night programmes, before players and supporters joined in with an auction of game-worn jerseys to raise more funds for the club.

Jack Cooper was named Newcomer of the Year for London Raiders (pic: John Scott) (Image: Archant)

Raider of the Year (selected by supporters)

1987-88: Marc Chartier (Can)

1988-89: Gord Jeffrey (Can)

1989-90: Gord Jeffrey

London Raiders captain Tom Davis won the Heart of Raiders award (pic: John Scott) (Image: Archant)

1990-91: Rob Stewart (Can)

1991-92: Rob Stewart

1992-93: Rob Stewart

1993-94: Terry Kurtenbach (Can)

1994-95: no winner

1995-96: Danny Marshall (GB)

1996-97: Mikko Nurminen (Fin)

1997-98: Henrik Olsson (Swe)

1998-99: Mikko Nurminen

1999-2000: Jaakko Komulainen (Fin)

2000-2001: Danny Marshall

2001-2002: Jamie Randall (GB)

2002-2003: Mark Williams (GB)

2003-2004: Rob Douglas (Can)

2004-2005: Andrew Power (Can)

2005-2006: Kyle Amyotte (Can)

2006-2007: Andrius Kaminskas (Lith)

2007-2008: Mark Lee (GB)

2008-2009: Jan Krajicek (Cze)

2009-2010: Matt Turner (GB)

2010-2011: Juraj Huska (Svk)

2011-2012: Billy Phillips (GB)

2012-2013: Shane Kemp (GB)

2013-2014: David Oliver (GB)

2014-2015: Jacob Ranson (GB)