Peterhead Football Club has ended its most successful season with another top accolade.
The Balmoor side was last night presented with a Pride of Buchan award.
Aberdeenshire councillors, who nominated the Scottish League Two champions for the prize, said the players were an inspiration to local youngsters.
Peterhead FC won the league with three games to spare last month after a 2-0 victory away to Clyde. It is the first silverware the club has picked up since it moved out of the Highland League in 2000.
A reception was held at Peterhead’s Arbuthnot House for players and managers last night
The Pride of Buchan award is presented by the Buchan area committee to people or groups in the local area who go above and beyond the call of duty to better themselves and the community.
Councillor Stuart Pratt, who chairs the committee, said: “This award is in recognition of the fantastic achievement in winning the League Two title. It was their first trophy since gaining entry to what is now the SPFL and they were by far the best team in the league.
“We wanted to recognise this achievement and the committee agreed it would be fitting to present them with the Pride of Buchan award.”
Vice-chair Anne Allan added: “The award is in recognition of the hard work of everyone at the club and its importance to the local area and the people of Peterhead.”
The club won the title by 13 points from Annan Athletic, losing just six games in the whole league season. Striker Rory McAllister scored 33 goals in all competitions which led to him being named PFA Scotland’s League Two player of the year. He also scored the most league goals of any player in Scotland.
Club chairman Rodger Morrison said: “We are extremely grateful to the committee for this recognition and are proud that the club’s success is putting Peterhead on the map.”
Previous recipients of the Pride of Buchan award include the Peterhead-based Buchan Peterson Pipe Band and a group of five young engineers from Mintlaw Academy.