JOHN BIRKETT MEMORIAL SHIELD
SULSESC’s annual Player of the Year award is presented in memory of former club chairman John Birkett, who sadly died in May, 1998 at the age of just 46 after a short battle against lymphatic cancer.
At the time, John was SULSESC’s longest-serving chairman. He lived in Balmoral Road in Leyton, literally a stone’s throw from the main entrance to Orient’s ground.
SULSESC get-togethers at John’s house became a pre-match ritual before away games at Orient, with members enjoying beers and a barbecue in his back garden before leaving the house at 2.58 pm in plenty of time to claim a spot on the away end terrace in time for kick-off!
David Harle was SULSESC’S first POTY in 1988, United’s final season at the Old Show Ground.
After John’s death, the Memorial Shield was commissioned and has been presented every year since.
PLAYER OF THE SEASON - ROLL OF HONOUR
1987-88 David Harle
1988-89 Tony Daws
1989-90 Andy Flounders
1990-91 Andy Flounders
1991-92 Paul Longden
1992-93 Matt Elliott
1993-94 Matt Carmichael
1994-95 Alan Knill
1995-96 Tony Ford
1996-97 Steve Housham
1997-98 Chris Hope
1998-99 Jamie Forrester
1999-00 Lee Hodges
2000-01 Andy Dawson
2001-02 Mark Jackson
2002-03 Tommy Evans
2003-04 Andy Butler
2004-05 Andy Butler
2005-06 Andy Keogh
2006-07 Joe Murphy
2007-08 Jack Cork
2008-09 Gary Hooper
2009-10 Paul Hayes
2010-11 Josh Lillis
2011-12 Sam Slocombe
2012-13 Mark Duffy
2013-14 Sean McAllister
2014-15 Paddy Madden
2015-16 Paddy Madden
2016-17 Murray Wallace
2017-18 Funso Ojo
2018-19 Lee Novak