McCutcheon wins team-mates’ vote as Player of Year

The Scottish striker will leave Ballymena with an armful silverware after this Saturday night’s end of season awards in the Des Allen Suite, at the end of a stellar campaign.

McCutcheon has been a nailed-on cert for leading goalscorer since before Christmas, while the Seven Towers Supporters’ Club has also named him as its Player of the Year.

McCutcheon has also received the backing of his team-mates by winning the Ballymena Times-sponsored Players’ Player of the Year award by a landslide margin.

“I’m delighted to pick up the award, absolutely thrilled,” McCutcheon told Times Sport.

“It’s a great honour that the boys you play with every week think that you’ve been the best player.

“It’s a good reward at the end of a hard season but I’ve enjoyed it.

“Without my team-mates I wouldn’t have scored the goals that I have and I wouldn’t be collecting these awards.

“I give a lot of credit to all the boys – I couldn’t single anyone out, I’ve had help from all over.

“You always set yourself targets – the first was double figures, then 15, 20 but to get past 30, I’m absolutely thrilled with that.”

McCutcheon will get a final chance to improve upon his 32-goal haul as United complete their season with a trip to Lisburn Distillery this Saturday (3pm).

McCutcheon will complete a remarkable record of not having missed a single Ballymena match in his two seasons at the club – some 90 successive games – with manager Glenn Ferguson confirming that the striker will play.

“We will go out there with our full squad because we don’t want to get beat,” said Ferguson.

“We don’t want to be doing anyone any favours and we will go out with the same mentality and attitude.

“It’s a great appearance record and he obviously looked after himself.

The goals will be missed and we’ll have to try and sign someone to fill his boots which won’t be easy,” added Ferguson, who made McCutcheon captain for Saturday’s match against Glenavon and also brought him off with a couple of minutes to go, to a rapturous ovation.

* Seven Towers Supporters’ Club transport to Saturday’s game at Lisburn Distillery leaves Henry Street car park at 1.45pm. The club’s final Joker draw of the season will take place before departure.