Devonshire Recreation Club were the biggest winners during Bermuda Football Association?s (BFA) fourth annual Awards Ceremony at the National Sports Centre on Saturday night ? and by far the most vocal in attendance.

Amid repeated chants of ?ole?, Cougars players, sporting green and gold tracksuits, received their reward for a season which finally saw the Premier Division club come of age in winning a maiden League and Friendship Trophy championship.

Indeed it proved to be a night to remember for the Big Cats as Domico Coddington walked away with the coveted Most Valuable Player and Most Valuable Young Player Awards while coach Andrew Bascome was unanimously voted Coach of the Year.

Coddington, currently in Toronto training with Canadian Professional Soccer League club Oakville Blue Devils, could not attend Saturday?s event. But present to accept two of the association?s most coveted awards on his behalf was proud mother Donnica Coddington.

Speaking to via cell phone, an elated Coddington commented: ?I am very happy to have received these awards and it is unfortunate that I could not attend. But I would like to first thank all of my team-mates, Devonshire Recreation Club, fans and the entire Devonshire community.

?It feels great to have made history for the club this past season and I still can?t believe what we were able to achieve. It still hasn?t really sunk in yet.?

Since his arrival from North Village two seasons ago, Coddington has been a vital cog in the Big Cats? midfield or wherever else he has been summoned to duty.

Last season saw Cougars lose the valued services of key players Omar Butterfield, Heys Wolfe and Raymond Beach through suspension, but the club still overcome the odds to clinch multiple titles.

?We managed to stay together and remain focused,? Coddington added. ?Everyone knew their role and were prepared to execute. It was devastating to lose those players at the time, but everyone managed to pick their game up and keep focused to the end.?

Coach Bascome also did not attend Saturday night?s ceremony. Cougars assistant coach Gary (Tuba) Mallory accepted on his colleague?s behalf.

?I think we all worked hard and deserved this,? Bascome told yesterday. ?It was definitely a good season for us and we certainly had to work very hard. I had to make decisions to help the team win games, crucial substitutions and half-time talks. So the challenges we encountered both on and off the field makes this all the more rewarding.?

Not to be outdone by their male counterparts, Lady Cougars also stamped their authority on the proceedings with Keanna Belboda gloving the Women?s Goalkeeper of the Year Award and young Cheyra Bell capturing the Most Valuable Young Women?s Player Award.

Bell also found herself in contention for the Most Valuable Women?s Player Award but was eventually beaten out by PHC skipper Carrie Kenneth for the top prize.

However, the sight of the two rivals hugging and congratulating each other offered proof that fair play does still exist in local football.

Lady Cougars were joint recipients of the Women?s Fair Play Award along with Somerset Cricket Club Hurricanes for accumulating just one booking each during the entire season. Devonshire also received the President?s Cup from Bermuda Referees Association president Richard Knight for providing the securest environment for match officials over the duration of last season.

First Division Prospect received the Men?s Fair Play Award for the fourth consecutive year.

Other individual awards saw Dandy Town?s Carlos Smith receive the Leading Goalscorer Award (nine league goals) while team-mate Cymande Davis was voted the Premier Division?s top ?keeper last season.

St.David?s player/coach Otis Minors received the First Division?s Leading Goalscorer Award (14 league goals) while PHC?s Tschana Wade topped the women?s scoring charts with 21 goals.

PHC?s Tokia Russell was voted the Premier Division?s Best Defender while the women?s award was shared between Denise Ward and Sakena Clarke.

Somerset Hurricanes coach Anthony Bailey was voted Women?s Coach of the Year, surprisingly beating out Vance Brown who coached Lady Cougars to League and FA Cup glory.

Senior referee Anthony Mouchette received the Referee of the Year Award while Granville Bennett was voted Most Improved Referee.

Though there was no special award for this category, Rodre (Piper) Wilson?s spectacular thunderbolt for Somerset Eagles against Dandy Town at St.John?s Field barely beat out Somerset Trojans striker Rohaan Simons? stunning acrobatic strike against Cougars at Somerset Cricket Club last November for goal of the year.

In addition to the presentation of individual awards, affiliates from the Premier and First Division ranks received financial rewards from league sponsors Cingular, while long-serving North Village member Ingrid Romaine, BFA administrator Candy Ford and Canadian coach and promoter Ben Kussy each received special achievement awards for their individual contributions to the sport over the years.