Football Awards for Best on Ground, Top Scorer and Club Champion: Reasons to Visit Us

Choosing football awards is about more than finding a trophy that looks impressive. Each award should reflect what the recipient achieved, suit the age and level of the competition, and feel appropriate when presented in front of teammates, families and club supporters.

Three of the most recognised football presentation awards are Best on Ground, Top Scorer and Club Champion. While each celebrates individual achievement, they recognise very different contributions. Best on Ground rewards an exceptional performance in a particular match, Top Scorer recognises a measurable result across a competition or season, and Club Champion generally reflects sustained performance and contribution over a longer period.

Understanding these differences helps clubs choose football trophies, medals and perpetual awards that make every presentation meaningful.

Best on Ground: recognising an outstanding performance

A Best on Ground award is usually presented to the player judged to have made the greatest impact during a particular match. Depending on the football code and the club’s criteria, that may be the player who demonstrated outstanding skill, effort, leadership, teamwork or composure under pressure.

The recipient does not necessarily need to be the highest scorer. A defender who repeatedly stopped attacking opportunities, a midfielder who controlled play or a goalkeeper who made decisive saves may be equally deserving.

Choosing a Best on Ground award

For a regular weekly award, practical options include:

• An engraved medal
• A compact football trophy
• A small plaque
• An engraved piece of drinkware
• A reusable or perpetual trophy displayed at the club

Clubs can explore the range available from Bayside Discount Trophies when comparing options for weekly matches, tournaments and end-of-season presentations.

For a grand final or important tournament match, clubs may prefer a more substantial trophy, cup, acrylic award or crystal and glass award.

The engraving should identify the achievement clearly. A useful inscription might include:

• Player’s name
• “Best on Ground”
• Club or team name
• Match, tournament or grand final
• Season or presentation year

If the same Best on Ground trophy is used each season, a perpetual award with individual engraved plates creates an ongoing record of achievement.

Top Scorer: celebrating a measurable achievement

The Top Scorer award recognises the player who records the highest number of goals, points or other relevant scoring result during the nominated competition period. Because Australian clubs play different football codes, the exact wording should match the sport and the club’s terminology.

Before ordering a Top Scorer award, confirm:

1. Which matches will count towards the total
2. Whether finals, grading matches or tournaments are included
3. How tied results will be handled
4. Who is responsible for verifying the final tally
5. The exact title that will appear on the award

This prevents last-minute engraving changes and ensures the award accurately reflects the club’s records.

Suitable Top Scorer award options

A football trophy featuring a relevant player figure or sporting emblem is a familiar choice. Clubs can also consider custom football trophies and medals, engraved cups, acrylic awards, glass awards or plaques.

Including the final scoring total can make the award more personal, but the number should only be supplied for engraving after the result has been confirmed. If awards must be organised before the final match, ask whether the recipient’s name and final total can be engraved separately once the season is complete.

Club Champion: recognising excellence across the season

A Club Champion award is often one of the most significant honours presented at an end-of-season function. Unlike a single-match award, it typically recognises performance or contribution across the season.

Every club defines its champion differently. Some use votes awarded after each match, while others consider consistency, sportsmanship, leadership, training attendance or contribution to the wider club. The selection method should be clear and consistently applied.

Because of its importance, the Club Champion award is often distinguished from other football player awards by its size, material, design or presentation.

Suitable options include:

• A substantial trophy or cup
• A perpetual trophy with an engraved annual plate
• A timber plaque or shield
• A premium acrylic award
• A crystal or glass award
• An award supplied in a presentation box

A perpetual award, plaque or shield can remain at the clubhouse, while the recipient receives a separate trophy or medal to keep. This gives the club an ongoing historical display without leaving the player without a personal memento.

Other football player awards worth considering

Best on Ground, Top Scorer and Club Champion may be major honours, but a balanced awards program can recognise more of the qualities that contribute to a successful team.

Depending on the club and age group, additional categories might include:

• Coaches’ Award
• Players’ Player
• Most Improved
• Best and Fairest
• Best Team Player
• Most Consistent
• Outstanding Defender
• Outstanding Goalkeeper
• Rookie of the Year
• Volunteer or Club Person Award
• Years of Service
• Participation awards for junior players

Clubs should avoid creating unnecessary categories purely so every player receives a competitive title. For younger teams, participation medals can recognise involvement, while specific achievement awards remain tied to clearly defined criteria.

Junior and senior football awards require different approaches

Junior football awards

Junior football awards should be age-appropriate, positive and easy to understand. Medals and smaller trophies are popular options because they are simple to present and convenient for children to take home.

Clubs may also recognise effort, improvement, teamwork and sportsmanship alongside playing ability. This helps ensure the awards reinforce the values the club wants young players to develop.

Before engraving junior awards, check the spelling of every player’s name against the team manager’s list or registration records. Nicknames should only be used when deliberately requested.

Senior football awards

Senior football awards can place greater emphasis on performance, season statistics, leadership and service. Major awards such as Club Champion may suit larger trophies, premium materials or perpetual shields, while team and positional awards can use a coordinated range in different sizes.

Using related designs across the award program creates a consistent appearance on the presentation table while preserving a clear hierarchy between participation, team and major club honours.

How to choose football trophies and medals

Match the award to its significance

The most prestigious award does not always have to be the physically largest, but it should be easy to distinguish from weekly or participation awards. Material, shape, presentation box, engraving and logo placement can all help establish that difference.

Consider how many awards are required

A club ordering medals for several junior teams has different needs from a committee selecting three major senior awards. Prepare a list showing each team, category, recipient and quantity before choosing products.

This also helps prevent duplicated awards, omitted age groups and inconsistent wording.

Use club branding thoughtfully

A club logo can turn a standard trophy, medal or plaque into an award that feels specific to the organisation. Bayside Discount Trophies offers custom award design and logo incorporation for sporting clubs, schools and businesses, subject to the suitability of the chosen product and artwork.

Supply the best-quality logo file available and confirm that the club has permission to use it. Avoid copying a small image from social media, as low-resolution artwork may not reproduce cleanly.

Plan the engraving as carefully as the award

Engraving connects a trophy to the recipient and occasion. Create a master list using a consistent format, such as:

• Recipient name
• Award title
• Team or age group
• Club name and season

Decide whether names will use full names, preferred names or initials. Check capitalisation, age-group formatting and season references across the entire list.

At Bayside Discount Trophies, custom engraving is completed on-site at the Wynnum premises. This gives the family-owned business direct oversight of the engraving process and makes it easier to coordinate the awards and their personalisation in one place.

Common football award ordering mistakes

Several simple mistakes can create unnecessary pressure before a presentation night:

• Ordering before the club has approved its award categories
• Supplying names through multiple emails or messages
• Forgetting coaches, volunteers or service awards
• Mixing different season formats in the engraving
• Providing incomplete or low-quality logo artwork
• Failing to check the spelling of recipients’ names
• Leaving tied results or unconfirmed statistics unresolved
• Choosing awards without considering presentation and transport

A single spreadsheet or clearly structured document is usually the safest way to submit names and inscriptions. One person should be responsible for approving the final information.

Planning an effective football presentation

Arrange the awards in presentation order before the event begins. Check that each inscription faces forward and that the presenter can read the recipient’s name without turning the award around.

If medals are being presented to an entire junior team, group them by team and place them in the same order as the presentation list. Presentation boxes can add impact to premium awards and help protect them before and after the ceremony.

It is also worth deciding who will explain the award criteria. A short description of why someone has received Best on Ground, Top Scorer or Club Champion can make the presentation more meaningful than announcing the title alone.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between Best on Ground and Club Champion?

Best on Ground usually recognises an outstanding performance in one match. Club Champion generally reflects sustained achievement or contribution across an entire season. The exact criteria should be defined by the club.

Are trophies or medals better for football awards?

Both can work well. Medals are suitable for participation, tournaments and larger team orders, while trophies, plaques and premium awards are often chosen for major individual honours. Many clubs use a combination.

Can our club logo be incorporated into an award?

Yes. Bayside Discount Trophies can incorporate sporting-club, school and business logos into suitable awards. Clubs should provide clear artwork and ensure they are authorised to use the logo.

What information should we provide for engraving?

Provide the recipient’s correctly spelled name, award title, club or team name, age group if relevant, and the season or year. Use one consistent format for the full order.

Can we collect football awards locally in Brisbane?

Yes. Clubs can visit the Bayside Discount Trophies showroom in Wynnum at 2392 Wynnum Road, Wynnum QLD 4178, with local pickup available. Delivery is also offered throughout Australia.

Make every football achievement count

Good football awards clearly communicate why the recipient is being recognised. Whether the honour is for a standout match, the season’s highest scoring result or the contribution of a Club Champion, the award should suit the achievement and carry accurate, carefully considered engraving.

Bayside Discount Trophies has served Brisbane for more than 17 years and offers football trophies, medals, cups, perpetual awards, plaques, acrylic awards, crystal and glass awards, custom engraving and award design.

Explore the available awards from Bayside Discount Trophies or contact the team to discuss a coordinated range for your club’s next football presentation.