PLAYER of the Season Kieran Henderson and 100 Club member Jonjo Fanning are the latest Bournville players to sign up for another season at Avery Fields.
Henderson, who joined Bourns from Sutton Coldfield two years ago, was a key performer in helping the club secure the Regional One Midlands title and an immediate return to National Two West with a series of consistent and powerful performances.
Fanning reached a century of first team appearances in December and continued to impress with strong ball carrying performances in attack and as a major disrupter of opposition ball at the breakdown.
They are joined by Myles Hibbs and Bhairaj Rai, two influential figures in the rise of Bournville Blues, in committing to the club.
“Kieran won the Player of the Season Award and it was fully deserved through consistently strong performances at back-row, in the second-row and even filling in in the backs on a number of occasions,” said Head Coach Alex Grove.
“He was able to play in the backs because his all-round skill-set is so good. He is a very talented all-round footballer and he picks things up quickly. He didn’t seem out of place on the occasions he played in the backs. Quite the opposite in fact – he offered us something different.
“Jonjo has been with us for a number of years now and I’m delighted that he is staying next season.
“His point of difference is his ability to slow down opposition ball. He is particularly effective over the ball and our breakdown will be a crucial area of our game if we are to compete in National Two.
“Jonjo also offers us a ball-carrying option going forward but, when we don’t have the ball, his ability to disrupt the breakdown and get over the ball is something that we are really going to need.”
Fanning played for Northampton Saints and Bedford Blues at academy level and his Bournville career has been split by a season with Northamptonshire club Bugbrooke.
Although Hibbs and Rai have yet to play for the first XV they have played significant roles in consolidating the Blues as a Counties Two Midlands West (East) side.
“They are both Blues stalwarts who have also captained the side and shown real leadership qualities,” Grove said.
“They lead by example and never give less than 100 per cent and they are the kind of men that you want leading your team.
“The Blues have been in the leagues for two seasons now. They were promoted in the first season and they have settled at level eight. These two guys have been at the front of that and they are very important figures in our squad.”
